• Latest
Agritech: Kenya’s Esther Kimani Awarded 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

Agritech: Kenya’s Esther Kimani Awarded 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

1 year ago
Museveni Endorses Teso Cattle Restocking Plan After Compensation Report

Museveni Endorses Teso Cattle Restocking Plan After Compensation Report

11 hours ago
Heartbreak for Uganda: Chemutai Falls as Cherotich Wins 3000m Steeplechase World Title

Heartbreak for Uganda: Chemutai Falls as Cherotich Wins 3000m Steeplechase World Title

11 hours ago
Uganda Airlines, Air India Sign Interline Partnership to Expand Global Connectivity

Uganda Airlines, Air India Sign Interline Partnership to Expand Global Connectivity

19 hours ago
Kyabazinga of Busoga, King Oyo Strengthen Ties

Kyabazinga of Busoga, King Oyo Strengthen Ties

20 hours ago
UEDCL Gains Over 640,000 New Connections in Six Months

UEDCL Gains Over 640,000 New Connections in Six Months

20 hours ago
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon Wins 4th World 1500m Title in Tokyo

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon Wins 4th World 1500m Title in Tokyo

20 hours ago
SoftPower News
Thursday, September 18, 2025
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
SoftPower News
No Result
View All Result
Home Africa

Agritech: Kenya’s Esther Kimani Awarded 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

by Our Reporter
July 12, 2024
Agritech: Kenya’s Esther Kimani Awarded 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

Esther Kimani, 2022 Youth Adapt Winner Awarded 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

32
VIEWS

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, July 12, 2024/ — Esther Kimani, a 2022 YouthADAPT winner, received the prestigious 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation from the Royal Academy of Engineering on June 13 in Nairobi, Kenya.

YouthADAPT is sponsored by the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation under the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).

Related Stories

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon Wins 4th World 1500m Title in Tokyo

Quality Higher Education Crucial for East African Integration, Says Muyingo at 14th EAQAN Forum

Kenya’s Chebet and Jepchirchir Strike Gold at World Athletics Championships in Tokyo

Innovative Solution for Smallholder Farmers

Kimani’s winning invention is an advanced early detection system, designed to detect crop pests and diseases swiftly, which can reduce crop losses by up to 30% and increase yields by as much as 40%.

This device is a transformative solution for smallholder farmers in Kenya, who typically lose about 33% of their crops to pests and disease.

Solar-powered, the device employs cutting-edge computer vision algorithms and machine learning to identify crop pests and diseases. It provides real-time alerts within seconds of detection and offers customised intervention advice using SMS. It also notifies government agricultural officers to engage in broader pest and disease management strategies.

The device costs only $3 per month to lease, an affordable alternative to more traditional, expensive methods like drone surveillance or manual inspections.

About the Africa Prize

Established in 2014 by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation supports scalable and sustainable engineering solutions to African challenges.

After a decade, the Prize alumni now comprise nearly 150 entrepreneurs from 23 countries. These innovators have created over 28,000 jobs and impacted more than 10 million people across the continent.

In celebration of the Prize’s 10th anniversary, the Royal Academy of Engineering hosted an Alumni Reunion, bringing together 100 past winners and finalists for a special three-day event, underscoring the strength and unity of this community.

Esther Kimani’s Vision

Esther Kimani provided some personal background to explain her innovation. “Growing up, my parents would lose up to 40% of their crops each season, deeply affecting our living standards. Our goal is to empower smallholder farmers, particularly women, to increase their income. We aim to reach one million farmers in the next five years.”

Kimani was awarded £50,000 to further develop her innovation, marking the largest prize amount in the history of the Africa Prize in honour of its 10th anniversary. During the event, finalists presented their business pitches to an audience of around 700 people.

Other Awardees

Three runners-up received £15,000 each:

Eco Tiles by Kevin Maina (Kenya): A roofing material made from recycled plastic, addressing both plastic pollution and high construction costs.

La Ruche Health by Rory Assandey (Côte d’Ivoire): An AI chatbot, “Kiko,” provides essential health information and services alongside a digital backend solution for healthcare providers.

Yo-Waste by Martin Tumusiime (Uganda): A mobile app connecting households and businesses to independent waste collection agents for efficient waste management.

Dr Abubakari Zarouk Imoro received the ‘One to Watch’ award, which was voted on by live and online audiences.

This award recognises the profound impact of his innovation on waste and biomass valorisation in local communities. Established in 2024 to honour the late Martin Bruce, a Ghanaian alumnus of the Africa Prize, the award comes with a £5,000 prize.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Tags: 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering InnovationEsther KimaniKenya

Recent Stories

Museveni Endorses Teso Cattle Restocking Plan After Compensation Report

Heartbreak for Uganda: Chemutai Falls as Cherotich Wins 3000m Steeplechase World Title

Uganda Airlines, Air India Sign Interline Partnership to Expand Global Connectivity

Kyabazinga of Busoga, King Oyo Strengthen Ties

UEDCL Gains Over 640,000 New Connections in Six Months

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon Wins 4th World 1500m Title in Tokyo

SoftPower News Logo

SoftPower News is a subsidiary of SoftPower Communications LLC, a Ugandan digital media group. Keep posted of the latest from Uganda and East Africa.
Plot 4B Malcolm X, Kololo
P.O Box 1497, Kampala - Uganda
Tel: +256-392-001-701
Email: info@softpower.ug

This news site is licenced by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)

ADVERTISEMENT
Stanbic Remittance Ad
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More

© SoftPower News

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

error: Content is protected
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women

© SoftPower News

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?