Nairobi Technical Training Institute student in a smart classroom. Photo File
The Kenyan environment is becoming toxic for youths
who are coming up with ideas but the ideas are threatened by lack of capital to
jam start them.
This pushes them to share them with potential
individuals who they expect to support them in return.
Over the years we have had incidents where young
people are chasing their ideas after realizing they shared with people who went
and implemented them without their permission.
How does this happen?
Youths are often proactive and in their interactions with their peers,, they encounter new ideas that can be actualized into more meaningful staff. In such groupings, they encounter mentors who pretend to be of help but in return, they want the ideas for their selfish gain.
Financial limitations and lacking knowledge on
protecting creations from unauthorized use are the biggest challenges facing
youth innovations in the country. Kenya lacks experts in drafting patents and
this remains a hindrance in youth innovations.
The Kenya Industrial Property Institute has failed
in its mandate of administering industrial property rights and provides
information to the public.
Have you had KIPI creating awareness on how youths should protect their innovations? It’s time for KIPI to team up with other relevant agencies to ensure the youths know their innovations should be patented before sharing any information with the financial aid.
Is it impossible to reduce the cost of patenting an
innovation? No, the cost is set high with only the financially capable
individuals or organizations meet the requirements. We can’t be singing of
supporting the youth will basics are made expensive for the same youth to
afford
By
Jacob Oyugi
Chief
Administrative Officer (CAO) at Consumer Grassroots Association, Kenya (CGA)
Government should protect youths’ innovations
The Kenyan environment is becoming toxic for youths who are coming up with ideas but the ideas are threatened by lack of capital to jam start them.
This pushes them to share them with potential individuals who they expect to support them in return.
Over the years we have had incidents where young people are chasing their ideas after realizing they shared with people who went and implemented them without their permission.
How does this happen?
Youths are often proactive and in their interactions with their peers,, they encounter new ideas that can be actualized into more meaningful staff. In such groupings, they encounter mentors who pretend to be of help but in return, they want the ideas for their selfish gain.
Financial limitations and lacking knowledge on protecting creations from unauthorized use are the biggest challenges facing youth innovations in the country. Kenya lacks experts in drafting patents and this remains a hindrance in youth innovations.
The Kenya Industrial Property Institute has failed in its mandate of administering industrial property rights and provides information to the public.
Have you had KIPI creating awareness on how youths should protect their innovations? It’s time for KIPI to team up with other relevant agencies to ensure the youths know their innovations should be patented before sharing any information with the financial aid.
Is it impossible to reduce the cost of patenting an innovation? No, the cost is set high with only the financially capable individuals or organizations meet the requirements. We can’t be singing of supporting the youth will basics are made expensive for the same youth to afford
By Jacob Oyugi
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at Consumer Grassroots Association, Kenya (CGA)