Our Story
Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) is a unique initiative that gives young people from across Kenya an opportunity to demonstrate innovation and showcase their scientific talents through a National Science and Technology competition.
YSK is based on the premise that a wealth of talent and potential for innovation exists among Kenyan youth and that by providing a platform for them to compete and showcase their own practical solutions to the problems faced within their communities, they can be encouraged to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Young Scientists Kenya is an initiative of both the Ministry of Education and the Government of Ireland through its Embassy in Kenya, and with support from BLAZE by Safaricom and other partners. The patron of YSK is the President of Kenya, H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Our mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of young scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs to transform their local and global communities through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Inspire students to take STEM and pursue STEM pathways through outreach, linkages and extension programmes.
Develop STEM learning ecosystems and communities of practice through partnerships, linkages, and extensions with the Government, Academia, non-state actors, and others.
Organize a national STEM platform that enables students to showcase their scientific research, technologies and innovations and create linkages for further research and commercialization.
Our History
History begins in 2017 with the foundation
Our Governance
Board Members
Sachen Gudka
Chair of the YSK Board
CEO of Skanem Interlabels Nairobi Limited
Amb. Fionnuala Quinlan
Irish Ambassador to Kenya
Jill Clements
Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya
Jacinta Akatsa
Director at CEMASTEA
Sheila Cadogan
Chair of the IP & Actualisation Committee
Partner at Cadogan & Mugo LLP T/A Adroit Law
Ben Roberts
Chair of the Programs Committee
Group CTIO at Liquid Intelligent Technologies
Hassan Duale
Director, Field Services and Co-Curricular Activities at the Ministry of Education
Ravi Ganti
Chair of the Resource Mobilisation Committee
Chief Technology Officer at Quantum
Juddy Gichuki
Senior Manager, Strategy Research at Safaricom PLC
Anthony Mwithiga
YSK Treasurer
Group Managing Director at Old Mutual Investment Group
Dr Julius Butime
Dean, School of Computing and Engineering Sciences at Strathmore University
Secretariat
Carina Dero
Head of Finance and Operations
Vanessa L Inziani
Head of Programs
Meshack Mbuyi
Head of Partnerships
Batuli Ali Bakari
Programs Officer