President William Ruto awarded the top innovators with the Presidential Innovation Challenge and Award in an exclusive ceremony at the State House, Nairobi on Monday.
The awarding ceremony was to take place late last year on Jamhuri day however, it was pushed to a later date.
Different winners were awarded from 30 counties across Kenya and 3 national winners who received Sh5 million, Sh3 million and Sh2 million respectively.
There were 284 applicants, however, only 219 applicants were shortlisted for the award of top innovators in 30 counties and 3 national slots.
During the awarding ceremony, Creative and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and Kenya National Innovation Agency CEO Tony Omwansa attended the ceremony.
"Your Excellency President William Ruto I thank you for joining us at the Kenya Innovation Week in which the awards were launched and I also thank the government for creating a conducive environment that supports innovation in the country," Namwamba said.
"This Inaugural award was centred for youth which is in line with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda that develops the entrepreneurial capacity of the young people."
Namwamba further said the awards are a revolutionary initiative to help in wealth creation and sustainable livelihoods.
Ruto while awarding the various winners emphasized the importance of such initiatives which are key in empowering the youths.
"Programmes such as the Presidential Innovation Challenge and Award, the Hustler Fund, the Youth Enterprise Fund and the Women Fund play a pivotal role in providing funding for ideas, talents," Ruto said.
"We are identifying and supporting innovative ideas and solutions so that the youth can optimally exploit their skills, creativity and talents to drive our socio-economic progress."
The innovation challenge began in August 2023 and participants are expected to graduate in April after an accelerator programme that took place from January to March 2024.
The challenge went through a judging process in November 2023 which enabled a number of winners to move to the next level for the final competition.
Namwamba said the innovation challenge focused on five different areas which include food security and agriculture, digital transformation, healthcare, entertainment and games, climate action and green energy.
The CS added that Kenya Innovation Week on November 27, 2023, was a pivotal ceremony that enabled financial support for the success of the innovation challenge.
