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Anthony Migwi, a student at KCA University specialising in Information Security and Forensics, found inspiration in the rising costs of protein in animal feeds in Kenya to start a business.

Away from his area of study, the student has developed an alternative approach for small-scale farmers to reduce their production costs using waste material.

His concept involves converting organic waste from markets into fast-growing, high-protein larvae from black soldier flies, which can be used to feed pigs and chickens.

Migwi observes that the innovation offers smallholder farmers a more reliable, profitable, and sustainable source of protein for their animals.

Black soldier flies are known for their efficient waste-recycling capabilities, and unlike common houseflies, they do not have mouths and pose minimal risk to human or animal health.

With this approach, Migwi explained that farmers who typically rely on imported protein sources like fishmeal and soybean can significantly reduce their production costs, leading to improved financial returns.

The innovation has enabled farmers to decrease their animal feed production costs by 30 per cent, leading to increased profits.

“This is a great innovation that is able to reduce the high cost of production among farmers especially at a time like this when everything is expensive. The larvae as feed supplements have the capacity to improve the income of smallholder farmers as their animals such as chicken are able to gain weight faster, translating to an increase in earnings by 20 per cent,” he said.

Migwi hopes to use the innovation to create jobs among youths in the sprawling villages of Mathare, Lucky Summer and Baba Ndogo.

After commercialization of the invention, the young innovator intends to collaborate with industry heavy-weights to offer lasting solutions to farmers’ high production woes.

His innovation is among tens of others on display at KCA university’s second innovation week and industry summit themed leveraging on Academia-Industry linkages to foster sustainable innovations.
While launching the one-week event, the chairperson, Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital Prof. Olive Mugenda rooted for the need to create synergies that will lead to ground-breaking solutions and address the most pressing social-economic challenges in the society.

Prof. Mugenda upheld the need for strong collaborations between higher the academia and industries to promote students’ innovations and create jobs for the youth.

She underscored that linkages between innovative students and industry players will not only enable them to advance their innovative ideas but will also give them much-needed industrial exposure.
She added that the partnerships with industry players are key in unlocking the innovation potential of many learners in the country stating that through such linkages, innovations are honed and commercialized for the benefit of the country’s economy.

“All countries thrive because of innovations. When people see societal gaps and work towards filling them, our communities are able to live better. For students, such innovations cannot be effective unless they are linked with the relevant industry players for them to be better shaped to fit the needs therein,” said Mugenda.