A delegation from the Kenya Biogas Stakeholders Network (BIONET) paid a courtesy call to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Planning, Research, and Extension), Prof. Phillip Raburu, where fruitful discussions were held to explore the potential for a long-term partnership and collaboration. The team included Mr. David Jesse, the Senior Advisor at BIONET, and Prof. John Githaiga of Moi University.

BIONET is an organization that unites biogas stakeholders in Kenya and champions the Biogas Innovation Platform which was initiated in response to the 2020 Kenya National Bioenergy Strategy and the launch of the action plan in 2024. The primary objective of the BIONET visit was to assess the biogas project at the University of Eldoret Farm and other biogas innovations spearheaded by staff and students.

One of the innovations assessed by the team was the biogas cleaning and packaging unit developed by Eng. Muhamed Swaleh from the School of Engineering. This innovative project exemplifies the University's commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions and providing practical applications that can benefit the broader community. The innovation has been submitted to KIPI for patenting to enable further development. 

For the University, the visit and prospective collaboration with BIONET presents a unique opportunity to enhance the biogas research and innovations. The partnership will facilitate knowledge exchange, access to technologies, and the development of new biogas applications that can contribute to the University's research portfolio and societal impact. The visit marked a significant milestone in the University's ongoing commitment to sustainable energy solutions and its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy by advancing biogas technology to contribute to the provision of affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy sources, Goal 13: Climate Action by developing and promoting biogas as a clean energy source aids in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals through the collaboration with BIONET to drive sustainable development.

Kenya Biogas Stakeholders Network team visit signifies a promising step towards achieving sustainable energy solutions. The prospective partnership is expected to bring substantial benefits to the University and the wider community by promoting sustainable practices and contributing to global sustainability goals.

Dr. Becky Aloo, the Head of Intellectual Property Management, Eng. David Masara and Mr. Kenneth Swara from the Biogas Projects at the School of Engineering accompanied the BIONET team.