The just-concluded 18th Enactus Kenya Virtual Entrepreneurship and Innovation Expo saw an online panel of digitally savvy Corporate leaders serving as judges, carefully select a champion to represent Kenya at Enactus Virtual World Cup in Utrecht, Netherlands come September 2020.
This year’s edition of Enactus Kenya National Expo attracted over 20 Enactus Kenya affiliate universities (both public and private) from all over Kenya; to showcase the achievements of their community outreach projects to an online panel of judges.
Their projects focused on offering Technology and Smart Solutions to challenges facing Kenya during this Covid-19 pandemic. Areas addressed involved Energy, Housing, Agriculture, Health, Mining and Waste Management. Over 30 Corporate leaders and 20 university faculty members participated in the competition.
The Enactus Kenya platform forms a foundation where students gain necessary skills to participate in Start-ups, SMEs and Technology Innovation initiatives.
Enactus Kenya has facilitated skills development for over 4,500 undergraduate students through experiential learning. This has been achieved through community outreach projects, trainings, thematic events, annual national business competitions and the annual Enactus World Cup.
The Expo provides a platform for the participating teams to perfect their innovations ahead of the World Cup Competitions, enhance industry collaboration and provide international exposure.
The university with the highest community impact solution represents Kenya at the Enactus Virtual World Cup which will be livestreamed from Utrecht, Netherlands in September 2020; with 36 countries participating.
Enactus Strathmore University captured first place with Data-Driven Agriculture; A customer-centered project that keeps track of farmland conditions and educates the farmer on ideal farming inputs and crops to cultivate for optimum and quality produce both remotely and in real time.
Enactus Jaramogi Oginga Odinga of Science & Technology came in second with Hydropad Project that involves the making of the sanitary towels from water hyacinth and paper waste to improve the hygiene among women and children in the rural areas, as well as keeping teenage girls in school ultimately improving their school performance.
Enactus University of Eldoret came in third place with Agrisasa, a mobile application project that provides smart market solutions for small and medium-sized scale farmers by providing ready markets for their farm produce.
The market solutions are based on the seller’s geographical location.
The application also connects potential buyers and sellers.
"I congratulate all the university students and faculty members that participated in the Enactus Kenya Virtual Entrepreneurship and Innovation Expo, more so to the Champion, Strathmore University. I welcome both industry and universities to join us in the next phase that is meant to enable virtual interactions between industry and academia to explore how best to navigate the COVID-19 new normal.” Said James Shikwati, Enactus Kenya Country Leader and Director Inter Region Economic Network (IREN).
“It was a pleasure to be part of the final round judges panel for the 18th Enactus Kenya National 2020 competition. I am amazed by the ideas and the projects presented in this platform. This reflects a lot about the Kenyan students' creativity and entrepreneurship promise.” Added Mohamed Saad, CEO GIZA Systems WECA
The 18th Enactus Kenya Expo featured: Enactus Teams Digital Project Presentations, Panel Discussions on the current issues, Enactus Kenya Home Stories Session following the Covid-19 Disruptions, Education, Technology and Innovation, The Job Landscape, Youth Entrepreneurship and Opportunities, Navigating Mental Health Challenges in the COVID-19 World, The power of Culture, and the Winners Announcement Sessions.
Working with 34 public and private Universities, Enactus Kenya has implemented more than 1,000 projects over time. Organizations and corporate entities participate through strategic partnerships to offer value to both the students and the respective organizations.
About Enactus Kenya
Enactus Kenya was launched in 2003 following an M.O.U between Enactus International and Inter Region Economic Network Ltd (IREN). The organization operates in over 30 colleges and universities, with more than 3,000 students participating.
Enactus is an international organization that brings together student, academic and business leaders who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to shape a better, more sustainable world. Guided by faculty advisors and business experts, participating students form teams on their campuses to create and implement community projects that empower people in need.
The experience not only transforms lives, it helps students develop the skills and perspective necessary to become effective, values-driven leaders. Founded in 1975, today Enactus has more than 70,500 student participants on campuses in 36 countries.
