MKU Partners with KeNIA to Champion Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship
On 29th September 2025, Mount Kenya University (MKU), in collaboration with the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), hosted an engaging innovation forum that brought together students, faculty, mentors, and partners. The event highlighted MKU’s pivotal role in advancing entrepreneurship, research, and technology in Kenya and across Africa.
A key highlight of the forum was the student innovation pitch session presented to Dr. Tonny Omwansa, CEO of KeNIA. Students confidently showcased their projects, supported by their mentors and lecturers who elaborated on the broader impact of each innovation. The presentations underscored MKU’s rich pool of talent and its distinctive approach to integrating classroom learning with real-world entrepreneurial problem-solving.
Spotlight on STEP-S: A Global Collaboration
Mr. Bonface Joel Malala highlighted on the STEP-S Project (Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion and Sustainability). The initiative is a partnership among Leuphana University (Germany), Mount Kenya University (Kenya), Godfrey Okoye University (Nigeria), and the University of Venda (South Africa), funded by DAAD. STEP-S focuses on equipping students with entrepreneurial and research skills, and MKU has already achieved significant milestones through the program, including training over 120 undergraduate students in entrepreneurship and supporting the establishment of student-led start-ups following the training.
The ACCESS Project, led by Dr. Yatich, supports 30 students annually through a business idea challenge and bootcamp in Kenya. Dr. Yatich encouraged students to take advantage of the innovation opportunities available through the partnership between Mount Kenya University (MKU) and the African German Entrepreneurship Academy (AGEA) an initiative that works with dedicated academic and business partners in Africa and Germany to promote practice-oriented entrepreneurship education and foster the creation of start-ups across African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
He noted that currently, six student innovations are being incubated at the MKU Innovation Hub under the guidance of Mr. Donatus Njoroge, Head of Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Commercialization. Among these are one innovation supported under the AGEA project, which is being prepared for EXIST funding in February 2026, and three innovations under the Africa Meets Bavaria Project.
The Incubation Hub has also played a key role in supporting the commercialization of WEMA Black Herbal Soap, a project receiving backing from the MKU Board of Directors. The Board Chair, who was named the Eastern Africa Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015, has been instrumental in championing faculty and student innovations through seed funding for prototyping and commercialization.
Dr. Yatich further appealed to KENIA to support MKU’s initiatives under its Institutional Commercialization Support Programme.
Research, Technology, and the Future
Dr. John Kamau, Dean of the School of Computing & Informatics, revealed that MKU is set to acquire a research-support robot within the next few weeks, a transformative resource for advancing informatics research.
Dr. Henry Yatich also highlighted the work of MKU’s Innovation and Incubation Centre, established in 2023, which offers incubation, mentorship, commercialization support, and networking opportunities for innovators across Kenya.
The Centre provides entrepreneurs with tailored coaching, IP services, access to state-of-the-art equipment, and office space, making it a one-stop hub for turning ideas into market-ready solutions. Already, MKU has supported innovations in key areas such as circular economy, agriculture value addition, green energy, and tech solutions.
A National Footprint in Innovation
Through its College of Graduate Studies and Research (CGSR), MKU offers innovators support across eight regions of Kenya, ensuring students and alumni from Nairobi, Rift Valley, Coast, Nyanza, Central, Eastern, Western, and North Eastern all have access to resources. The university has also developed a robust policy landscape, from University Research and IP policies to competitive Innovation Challenges and a Vice-Chancellor’s Research and Innovation Grant that provides seed funding for prototypes.
These initiatives are complemented by international partnerships, including the World Bank’s SKIES program, the Erasmus+ AHEAD project, and DAAD-funded initiatives like ACCESS and STEP, positioning MKU as a continental leader in entrepreneurial education.
KeNIA’s Commitment to MKU
In his remark, CEO KeNIA, Dr. Tonny Omwansa emphasized the importance of patents in higher education: “Patents are not just indicators; they are a reflection of a university’s ability to translate knowledge into solutions with real-world value.” He challenged universities to measure their research outputs, expand strategic partnerships, and invest in accelerators that move research into commercialization.
Building Pathways for Students
While students impressed with their creativity, they also raised a common challenge: limited funding for their start-ups. In her closing remarks, Dr. Mercyline Kamande encouraged the university to support students further, including by exploring internships within their own start-ups.
“One thing I know is that we are capable. Let’s start looking into having some of our students begin interning at these start-ups they have come up with, because they have something to add,” she affirmed.
This collaboration with KeNIA reaffirmed MKU’s unique position as a hub for innovation in Africa. With its strong policies, regional presence, and thriving Innovation and Incubation Centre, MKU is not only nurturing innovators but also shaping future leaders. By connecting students to mentors, resources, and national partners like KeNIA, the university is ensuring its graduates are ready to create solutions that transform Kenya’s entrepreneurial and research landscape.
