Kenyans are, without a doubt, endowed with great potential. All that is needed to turn it into gainful innovation and impactful effects is an environment that makes it possible for every individual to thrive. That is the role of government.

The most recent example is that of Nelly Cheboi, who was this week recognised as the CNN Hero of the Year for her campaign to provide computers in schools in rural areas. Without her, the government’s dream of making its future citizens digital-savvy would be worse off. Yet, she took personal sacrifices to make the dreams of many young Kenyans working with computers come true.

Not so long ago, a group of St Paul’s University students also won a global award for their innovation on re-usable sanitary pad that have the potential to end school absenteeism among female pupils from poor families, who would otherwise have had to stay home every time they had their menses. The innovations of such Kenyans have the capacity to transform lives, not just within our borders but even beyond because they have come up with ideas that can be scaled up.

What is needed to have more such Kenyans gather the courage to test their ideas in the marketplace is an enabling environment from the government. It starts with strict tasks such as registering patents, trademarks and copyrights so that others who would like to ride on those innovations can pay for them sustainably.

This is one of the bottlenecks that have constrained the growth of ideas in Kenya because many of those who have them live in fear of losing them if they present them to corporates or other people in positions of influence and authority.

The commitment made by the government, that it will, for instance, pay attention to the digital economy and ensure that creatives are rewarded financially for their innovations will go a long way in protecting the copyright of young, inexperienced and often poor innovators.

Secondly, the relevant government agencies can facilitate private firms, investors and civil society groups to organise fairs during which people can showcase their innovations. That way, they will link the people with ideas and those with capital, a synergy which can guarantee that innovations become commercially viable.