THE wonderful Kenyan Innovations !

Why do we have to read and be taught about Europe Innovations and models of operations and nothing is documented to that magnitude from the Kenyan environment?

For instance, why do I need to read more about Tesla, Facebook, Amazon, Alibaba, Uber, Airbnb, etc., and less of Mpesa, Roy Allela’s Smart Gloves, Richard Turere’s Lion Lights, and The i-Cut app by Kenyan Highschoolers?

Take the example of Tesla, the world believes that they are the innovators of solar tiles.

While in truth, Kenyan sibling duo, Charity Wanjiku, and Tony Nyaga of Strauss energy birthed their Solar Tiles Invention in the late 1990s after Kenyans experienced a 16-hour power blackout. Their production began in 2013 for obvious reasons such as zero commitment from govt to support start-up ideas.

Strauss Energy's Solar Tiles

A decade later in October 2016, Elon Musk announced his solar tiles. However, today the world hears less of Charity and Tony's solar tiles but more of the ones by Elon Musk. - I just don't understand!

Now take a look at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and rapper Juliani's Dandora Hip Hop City's taka bank idea. Why is it not getting the limelight and support across the board? If it had begun in Europe, it could have been embraced worldwide and even here in Kenya.

Taka Bank kiosks serve as collection stations for waste in Nairobi’s informal settlements. The trash is then sorted by youths (10 youths per taka bank) for recycling at a fee. Such a great idea for youth empowerment and waste management.

What are we not doing right?

Is it because our innovations are less adopted? No, Mpesa had one of the best Innovation Adoption strategies, though locally.

Or its because we do not have enough resources to grow our inventions?

Top samples of Kenyan innovations

SOLAR TILES: They work in such a way that they can produce power that can completely sustain a modern household without the need for a secondary power source. Buy them for your homes.

LAIKIPIA BJ-50S: We have Kenyan made cars from Laikipia County, the BJ-50s, they have been given their number plates, one goes for 450K the last time I checked. Buy them!

THE TAKA BANK: you are encouraged to make good use of them. Simply go to taka online portal known as Customer Bora and request to have your garbage to be collected at a fee. Alternatively, homes can ask on their mobile phones to deposit their waste in the taka banks themselves.

THE SMART GLOVES: that turn sign language into speech by Roy Allela. It consists of a pair of smart gloves that capture sign language gestures and a companion mobile application that translates the sign language gestures to speech. Buy one today for that deaf person.

Now, we can make good use of these wonderful innovations and penetrate our neighboring countries with them.