Turkana County kicks off second term Young Scientists Kenya Exhibitions

Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Embassy of Ireland and Blaze  by Safaricom recently  held its first second term outreach in Turkana.  This is a continuation of the national high school outreach programme targeting an average of 1,500 students in each of the 47 counties.  During first term, YSK and all partners visited and interacted with students in Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, different parts of Northern Kenya, Coast and Mount Kenya. The tour ends in July 2019.

“At Safaricom, we are really proud to be associated with YSK    which is a unique platform for young people to demonstrate their innovation and showcase their scientific talents. In partnership with other key stakeholders, Blaze by Safaricom is very pleased to take an active role in mentoring  and empowering  our young people in science and technology in Turkana County,” said Sylvia Mulinge, chief customer officer – Safaricom.

This programme is a unique platform in East Africa that allows young people to demonstrate their talent with the aim of transforming Kenya through innovation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“Our main aim for sponsoring the school tour is to shatter the myth about STEM being   difficult and boring and to ensure that students with interest in these subjects get opportunities to learn and excel,” Ms. Mulinge further said.

The platform offered an opportunity to a number of secondary school students from Turkana to showcase and sell their tech and scientific ideas to relevant bodies in the field of science and technology.

Among the best innovations showcased at the exhibitions  was that of a programmed robotic by Levys Abedi Mushila, a form four student  from St. Kevin’s secondary school, with an aim of executing easy transport with less manpower in manufacturing and agriculture industries that are part of the Kenya’s big 4 agenda.

Last year’s exhibition saw 92 projects presented by 160 students during a two-day event held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in July. Wilson Irungu and Abdulrahman Sheikh Ali from Nakuru High School emerged as the winners thanks to their revolutionary internet-based energy monitoring and audit system concept. The  victory  earned them a fully paid trip to showcase their project  at the BT Young Scientists and Technology Exhibition in Ireland that ran between 9^th and 12^th January 2019.

Blaze is a platform that not only plays a role in transforming Kenya through innovation in STEM,  but also through Young Scientists Kenya (YSK),which promotes young people’s  talents in music and  drama  festivals.