Written by Mitchell Ndaga
Two Mount Kenya University students have put Kenya on the global innovation map after winning top honours at a business innovation competition in Leipzig, Germany.
Esbon Ogeto and Bettinah Maruti impressed judges with their start-up EcoBlu, which was named the most investment-worthy project.
The innovation provides an off-grid atmospheric water harvesting system designed to deliver decentralised and efficient access to clean water, particularly for communities in arid and semi-arid regions.
The pair’s victory came at the conclusion of a rigorous entrepreneurship training programme hosted at Leipzig University’s SEPT Competence Centre under the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support initiative.
The programme featured students from five African universities who underwent two weeks of intensive training in business planning, financial modelling, market analysis, and pitch delivery.
Dr Henry Yatich, ACCESS Project Coordinator at Mount Kenya University, said the win reflected the institution’s growing reputation for nurturing innovation and addressing youth employability challenges.
“This success is a testament to the brilliance and resilience of our students,” he said, adding that MKU would continue to provide mentorship, prototype testing, and intellectual property support through its Innovation and Incubation Centre.
The students are already developing a second-generation prototype aimed at the European market while participating in an accelerator programme at MKU.
The university has also announced plans to host a national business innovation challenge next month under the theme Innovate for Impact Scaling Kenyan MSMEs through SDG 9.
The Leipzig competition, fully funded by the European Union, brought together 12 innovators from Kenya, Ghana, Benin, and Rwanda.
Participants also engaged with Leipzig University’s SMILE start-up community, attended the IFA Berlin international trade fair, and took part in the iN4iN International Conference.
