The Slovenian President Dr Nataša Pirc Musar when she launched the unit at Jkuat on Monday.
The unit was launched on Monday by visiting Slovenian President Dr Nataša Pirc Musar.
Dubbed Conduit@Empathy, the unit comprises satellite and digital technologies for human and planet friendly management of water, environment and climate actions.
The climate hub is a joint initiative between JHUB Africa (an innovation and technology hub based at JKUAT) and Slovenia’s SPACE-SI (Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies).
It is an ambitious initiative to showcase how societies can leverage digital technologies to analyse conditions obtaining in river basin systems including water quality, state of vegetation, urban infrastructure as well as maritime traffic.
Addressing dignitaries, staff and students at Jkuat, President Musar noted that climate change had become a major existential threat for humanity, with countries, including Slovenia, bearing the brunt of climate induced disasters.
"There is need for additional efforts on climate action, particularly those capable of cushioning developing countries from climate vagaries," she said.
The Slovenian leader called on young people to proactively deploy their knowledge, and experience to innovate, as part of being part of the change they all yearn for. She added that Slovenia was among the few countries in the world which now looks at climate change a human rights issue.
Dr Beatrice Inyangala, the PS for Higher Education and Research said that the inauguration of the Conduit@Empthy, represents collective will to make data accessible, to infuse science with human meaning, and to connect technological tools with social purpose.
Dr Inyangala, who represented the Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba at the event, added that Kenya is open for innovation and partnerships that deepen digital capabilities while uplifting people.
“This is how we build a data-driven nation—by ensuring that our universities are not just places of theory, but engines of practical solutions for issues like water scarcity and management, climate change preparedness, agricultural planning, and disaster risk reduction,” Dr Inyangala said.
Jkuat Vice Chancellor Prof Victoria Ngumi noted that the current world faces many complex, interwoven challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing inequalities.
Prof Ngumi said Jkuat through JHUB-Africa is advancing Kenya’s role in data-driven climate resilience and environmental stewardship.
She said that Jkuat will host community training, run national seminars, support county-level integration, and co-create ecosystem services in partnership with agencies.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi said the university had played a key role in disseminating key technologies to the local community, besides producing quality human capital for the county and country at large.
The newly established Conduit@Empathy at JKUAT will be crucial in generating crucial data points that could help the state to undertake surveillance, decision making and resource allocation for effective climate action.
As a leading voice in the global efforts to tackle climate change, Slovenia, through its international development cooperation, prioritises projects that promote environmental stewardship, advance gender equality and strengthen community resilience.
The emphasis remains on supporting locally led solutions that empower communities, especially women and youth to be at the forefront of change
The event was also attended by Environment CS Dr Deborah Barasa, European Union envoy to Kenya Henriette Geiger, Kiambu Women Representative Anne Wamuratha, UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Stephen Jackson, WFP Country Director Lauren Landis and JKUAT Council members.
