UoN shines at the Kenya National Research Festival 2025

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Beyond the Lab: University of Nairobi's Groundbreaking Research Delivers Real-World Solutions at the Kenya National Research Festival 2025!

The University of Nairobi (UoN), through the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Enterprise), participated in the Kenya National Research Festival 2025. The festival, held from August 18th to 22nd at Egerton University, Njoro Campus, brought together dynamic minds and transformative innovations from across Kenya and beyond.

Anchored on the theme “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: Empowering Communities through Research, Science, Technology and Innovation”, this year’s festival provided a crucial platform for researchers, policymakers, and innovators to showcase impactful solutions for sustainable development. The University of Nairobi mobilized a distinguished team of researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to present groundbreaking work that addresses pressing societal challenges.

Professor Richard Kiprono Mibey was recognized and awarded for the Best Research with Economic Impact Award, while Ms. Rahab Wanjeri received the Best Research with potential Social Impact Award and Mr. Paul Ongaro won the Best User-friendly Research Award.

These accolades highlight UoN's commitment to generating research that not only pushes the boundaries of knowledge but also creates tangible economic and social benefits for communities.

The University of Nairobi showcased a range of cutting-edge research and innovation designed to transform lives:

Pera Foods (Faculty of Agriculture / Department of Food Science): A vibrant startup born out of research, Pera Foods is redefining nutrition and wellness through the value addition of local produce. Their flagship products, including Dawa Mix, SeaMoss Health Drinks, Fruit Wines, and Whole Fruit Juices, promote healthier lifestyles and strengthen Kenya’s agri-food innovation value chain.

Essential & Carrier Oils Unit (Faculty of Science & Technology / Department of Chemistry): This hub of innovation in natural products showcased a diverse range of oils, including eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, avocado, jojoba, castor seed, and tea tree oils, alongside cedar wood, cypress, frankincense, cinnamon, peppermint, lemongrass, wheat germ, rosehip, and bespoke blends like hair growth oil and aftershave oil. These innovations not only drive research commercialization but also position Kenya as a player in the fast-growing global essential oils market.

Circular Economy Innovation (Prof. Emeritus Richard K. Mibey): In a remarkable demonstration of turning challenges into opportunities, Professor Mibey presented an innovation on transforming invasive plant parasites into valuable products for the circular economy. This cutting-edge research reimagines environmental threats as avenues for sustainable livelihoods.

UoN researchers also made strong contributions to scholarly discourse, presenting papers and posters addressing critical global and regional challenges:

  • Strengthening Water Access and Quality in Selected African Countries.
  • Simulating Climate Change Impact on Irrigated Agriculture in Kenya (Nyando) and Nigeria (Asa).
  • Tackling Firm-Level Awareness Barriers to AfCFTA Adoption in Kenya.

Speaking on the University’s participation, Professor Francis Mulaa, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation & Enterprise), emphasized UoN's core mission: “The University of Nairobi is deeply committed to ensuring that our research moves beyond academic journals into real-world solutions that transform lives. Through platforms such as the NRF Research Festival, our researchers and innovators are demonstrating how science, technology, and innovation can strengthen food systems, unlock new industries, and empower communities. This is the true essence of research with impact”.

The University of Nairobi remains at the forefront of research and innovation, bridging the gap between discovery and societal transformation. Through these exhibitions, papers, and posters, UoN researchers are not just generating knowledge—they are reshaping industries, fostering healthier societies, and opening up new frontiers of opportunity for Kenya and Africa.

As the NRF Research Festival concluded, the University of Nairobi proudly stands as a beacon of innovation and research excellence, turning discovery into meaningful impact.

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