Samsung Electronics East Africa and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have officially launched the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) in Kenya.
The initiative, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Thursday, establishes a dedicated training ground within JKUAT’s Main Campus in Juja.
The program will leverage the university’s existing innovation infrastructure, specifically collaborating with JHUB Africa, the university’s digital innovation hub. This strategic placement ensures students can transition seamlessly from learning theoretical AI concepts to co-creating market-ready solutions and startups within the hub’s incubation ecosystem.
The JKUAT launch marks the latest expansion of Samsung’s global citizenship program in Africa, joining a growing network of institutions dedicated to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The initiative is already operational in several other key African nations, including South Africa at Walter Sisulu University and the Central University of Technology, Lesotho in partnership with the National University of Lesotho, Malawi at the Malawi University of Science and Technology, and Nigeria in collaboration with the Lagos State Technical & Vocational Education Board.
Targeting 80 learners annually, the Kenyan chapter will offer a specialized curriculum in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data. The program addresses a critical national gap; with only 23.8% of Kenyan households using the internet and AI fluency becoming a top global job requirement, the campus aims to fast-track students into the digital economy.
“The Samsung Innovation Campus is a long-term investment in the brilliant minds that will lead Kenya’s digital economy,” said Mr. Richard Lee, President of Samsung Electronics East Africa. “We are honored to partner with JKUAT to provide real opportunities and empower the next generation of innovators.”
To ensure sustainability, the program includes a “Training of Trainers” component to upskill JKUAT faculty, and a strict mandate that 50% of all beneficiaries must be women, directly tackling the gender divide in the local tech sector.
JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, welcomed the partnership as a perfect fit for the university’s STEM-focused mandate.
“JKUAT is honoured to partner with a global technology leader like Samsung,” said Prof. Ngumi. “The Samsung Innovation Campus will give our students practical access to a world-class AI and Coding and Programming curriculum, bridging the gap between academia and industry and preparing them for the future of work.”
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