By Johnson Mwangangi
The Pwani Innovation Week 2025 media launch took place at Hotel Sapphire in Mombasa. It marked the beginning of the sixth edition of a coastal event focused on youth-led innovation, regional entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic development.
This year’s theme is “Pwani Reimagined: Youth Agency, Innovation and Sustainability of Coastal Economies.” Speakers stressed that the focus is no longer about ideas—it’s about outcomes. Organizers want to shift the region’s position in Kenya’s economy by backing solutions linked to real opportunities.
Rukia Janwala from Swahili Pot Hub reminded the room that the event was born out of necessity. For too long, innovation has been centered in Nairobi. Pwani Innovation Week was created to redirect attention, investment, and opportunity to Kenya’s coast. She pointed to Mombasa’s climb in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index—from position 1,122 to 916 in just one year—as evidence that the model is working.
Speakers throughout the morning outlined how the coast is responding to long-standing barriers with local solutions. Sharon Owino gave examples of entrepreneurs addressing coastal challenges. One startup converts plastic waste into cooking gas. Another cultivates seaweed and turns it into organic fertilizer. A third is working with Kenya Ports Authority to develop electric trucks for port operations. Others are building cold storage for small-scale fishers and developing virtual tourism products.
They all come from Mombasa and neighboring counties. Their work is relevant to the region’s economy, but many of them still lack the investment and networks needed to scale. The event aims to change that by creating space for connection and funding.
Ayub Mohammed highlighted a contradiction. Mombasa has the fastest internet speeds in Kenya due to eight undersea cables. But rural access is low. Only 17 percent of young people in coastal rural areas have meaningful internet access. In Nairobi, it’s 46 percent. He stressed that the region needs more than infrastructure. It needs access, skills, and hardware to fully participate in the digital economy.
The County Government of Mombasa pledged its support. Deputy Governor Francis Thoya said the administration is working with all departments to identify problems that can be solved by local innovators. Those solutions will then be considered for funding or procurement. He called it a shift from rhetoric to implementation.
Organizers introduced the three tracks that will define this year’s edition: Youth Agency, Digital Economy, and Sustainable Economy. The latter includes the blue economy and the cultural and creative industries. Each track will run programs throughout the event, including pitch sessions, exhibitions, and policy discussions.
Presenters invited businesses, development agencies, universities, and policymakers to get involved. They asked for support in sponsoring booths, covering logistics, mentoring startups, and co-hosting sessions. The goal is not to showcase potential but to act on it.
Poet and media personality Ms. Noni closed the session with a performance that connected the region’s heritage to its current momentum. She reminded the audience that innovation is not new to the coast. It has been part of its history for centuries. What’s different now is the structure being built around it.
Pwani Innovation Week 2025 will take place from October 27 to 31 in Mombasa. Organizers say this year’s edition will focus on execution, partnerships, and measurable results. They are not calling for inspiration. They are calling for involvement.
