Gusii Innovation Week 2025 Champions AgriTech, AI and Youth-Led Solutions for a Resilient Future
Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation (SD-SRI), Prof Shaukhat Abdulrazak at the Gusii conference. (Photo/ Courtesy)
By The COAST Team
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening research–innovation–commercialization linkages, expanding innovation infrastructure, and empowering youth and women innovators across the country.
This was evident during the Gusii Innovation Week 2025 (GIW2025) which happened this week in Kisii County with a strong call for collaboration, innovation, and investment in technology-driven agriculture to secure Kenya’s food systems and empower youth innovators.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation (SD-SRI), Prof Shaukhat Abdulrazak commended FIE_Labs Innovation Hub, the County Governments of Kisii and Nyamira, Konza Technopolis, and all partners for convening the flagship event under the theme “Resilient Agrifood Systems for Nutritional Security and Economic Sustainability.”
“GIW2025 represents the power of partnership under the Quadruple Helix Innovation Model — bringing together government, academia, industry, and communities to drive Kenya’s transformation through science and innovation,” he noted.
The PS highlighted that the newly established State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, created in 2025, aims to give stronger national focus to research, innovation, and commercialization.
“Our mandate is to coordinate and strengthen Kenya’s STI ecosystem, ensuring that scientific research and innovative ideas translate into real impact.”
The PS noted that the GIW2025 aligns with key national and continental frameworks, including Kenya Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Agenda 2063, and Kenya’s STI Policy Framework, all of which prioritize innovation-led growth, industrialization, and climate resilience.
This year’s program featured an AgriTech AI Hackathon from (Oct 27–28) where youth-led teams are developing artificial intelligence solutions for agricultural productivity and climate adaptation showcased their prowess.
Other highlights included an Innovation Summit (Oct 29) with five thematic tracks on sustainability, markets, technology, and financing; an Ecosystem Tour (Oct 30) showcasing startups and innovation hubs in Kisii and Nyamira; and the launch of the FYIIP Program (Oct 31) to connect agri-innovations to markets and investment capital.
He underscored the roles of the Department’s key agencies — NACOSTI, NRF, and KeNIA — in building an integrated innovation pipeline.
“From idea generation at the Hackathon, to networking at the Summit, and deployment through the Ecosystem Tour, GIW2025 embodies how research, innovation, and entrepreneurship can move hand-in-hand to create tangible change.”
Driving AgriTech and Regional Innovation
Agriculture remains Kenya’s economic backbone, and the event emphasized the transformative role of AgriTech and Artificial Intelligence in improving productivity, value addition, and climate resilience.
“We must go beyond developing new technologies — our focus must be on scalability, affordability, and real impact for farmers and value chains,” he urged.
Commitment to Sustainable Impact
Among the expected outcomes of GIW2025 are the development of over 20 prototypes, 15 startup pitches to investors, and the formation of four working groups to follow up on innovation scaling.
More than 300 participants are attended the week-long event, representing government, academia, investors, startups, and policy makers.
The professor called on innovators, counties, and private investors to make the most of the week:
“Use this platform to prototype, pitch, network, and connect to markets. Innovation only matters when it transforms lives and livelihoods.”
He also encouraged local universities and hubs such as FIE_Labs to deepen entrepreneurship training, technology transfer, and problem-solving rooted in local contexts — innovations that work for Kisii, Nyamira, and beyond.
Closing his remarks, the PS expressed optimism that the twin counties of Gusii and Nyamira would grow into regional AgriTech and AI innovation hubs, leveraging their talent, resources, and partnerships.
“GIW2025 is not a one-off event but part of a sustained national innovation drive. Let this week be the start of new ventures, partnerships, value chains, and jobs.
Kenya’s transformation depends on our ability to harness science, research, and innovation — let’s get to work.”
Gusii Innovation Week is an annual event that brings together innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders to co-create solutions that strengthen Kenya’s innovation and agrifood ecosystem.
