Mount Kenya University researchers, Dr. Onyancha and Dr. Yatich, from the School of Pharmacy and School of Business, along with administrators in the College of Graduate Studies and Research, were awarded the “International Innovator Award Africa 2024” for presenting their research-based polyherbal bathing black soap (WEMA SOAP) at the Born Global Start-up Festival. This initiative by Leipzig University empowers international start-ups in Germany.
This marks the first time the bathing soap is gaining popularity on an international level. The soap has been recognized as a new innovation for the years 2023 and 2024. It was developed by Pharmacy students under the guidance of Dr. Onyancha during their final research projects, with Dr. Yatich providing market insights. The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has tested and approved the soap for the East African market, and the university currently holds the patent as the sole proprietor of the soap.
Continuous research on the soap reveals that out of 306 users, over 81% reported satisfaction with its use as a skin cleanser. Dr. Onyancha states that the soap contains local herbs cultivated at the university’s botanical garden and sourced from traditional medicine practitioners specializing in skin conditions. The main ingredients include activated charcoal from bamboo stem, aloe extracts, and fixed oils from neem, palm, and coconut, along with assorted essential oils. Dr. Onyancha believes the soap offers an alternative to conventional antimicrobial skin care products, containing minimal harmful chemicals like triclosan and triclocarban. Additionally, the soap is considered an eco-friendly innovation, skillfully blending various herbs to create a polyherbal soap, which is more advantageous than having multiple soaps with single herbal ingredients.
The university plans to produce and launch the soap in August 2024, targeting university staff, students, and residents of Thika in Kiambu County as the initial market. Market expansion will depend on sales in Kiambu County, gradually spreading to nearby counties and eventually the entire country. Additionally, the university is pursuing a start-up opportunity for the soap in Germany, aiming to meet European standards, secure World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) approval, and distribute it globally, thereby enhancing the university’s research and innovation presence on the global stage.
