The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise (DVC-RIE), Prof. Leonidah Kerubo today hosted a high-level engagement between the University of Nairobi and the Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) to unlock the commercialisation pathway for a promising home-grown innovation: a garlic extract technology for natural meat preservation.
This was the rallying call by secondary school students who gathered at the Chandaria Auditorium, University of Nairobi Towers, for the official launch of the University of Nairobi–ZEISS Youth Innovation Challenge Nairobi (2026) on Friday, 20 February.
The DVC kicked off the exercise at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, where she was received by the Faculty Dean, Prof. Jack Odhiambo. Later, the DVC’s team, which included the Director of Research and Enterprise, Prof. Thomas Ochuku, and the Director, Library and Information Services, Mrs Angela Mumo, visited the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST). The Acting Dean, Prof. Francis Nyongesa, and Associate Dean (Ag.), Prof. Sheila Okoth, received them.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise, Professor Leonidah Kerubo, represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Margaret Hutchinson, at a vibrant Spring Festival celebration held at the University of Nairobi Confucius Institute. The event marked the Chinese New Year while reinforcing the growing academic, cultural and industry ties between Kenya and China. The Spring Festival celebration also reaffirmed the University of Nairobi’s strategic commitment to internationalisation, cross-cultural exchange, and industry partnership.
On Friday, 13th February 2026, the Faculty of the University of Nairobi witnessed the official launch of SheriaPal, an innovative legal-tech platform designed to simplify access to legal information and empower citizens with practical legal knowledge.
University of Passau (Germany) – Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable
Development
The team led by Prof. Paul Mativenga was in Nairobi at the invitation of Prof. Thomas Ochuku Mbuya, Director of research and Enterprise to discuss collaborative research and development project opportunities in the areas of inclusive clean energy access, sustainable manufacturing and circular economy. Opportunities for PhD scholarships and student mobility were also discussed.
The outcome of the visit include the following:
The University of Nairobi’s Director for Research and Enterprise, Professor Thomas Ochuku, has challenged the academic community to align education curricular to cover the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector. Speaking when he presided over the official launch of the AgriOPEN project on Monday 26 January 2026 at the University of Nairobi Towers, Prof. Ochuku hailed the project for the emphasis on sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship, which he termed as critical issues for Kenya’s agricultural economy.
On Tuesday, 20 January 2026 the Intellectual Property Management Office (IPMO) of the Research,
Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) Division joined other key stakeholders at a forum to discuss the status
of counterfeiting in Nairobi City County and strategies for strengthening the multiagency approach to
curbing this form of illicit trade.
