- Agoro Sare High School learners have showcased innovations designed to tackle crop losses and improve farming efficiency.
- The inventions include a robotic quelea bird-control device and an automated solar-powered water and seed sower machine.
- KICD sponsored the school’s participation at the Kaimosi Agricultural Expo to promote learner-centred innovation under CBC.
Wheat and rice farmers may soon find lasting relief from the destructive quelea birds, thanks to an innovative solution developed by learners from Agoro Sare High School in Homa Bay County. The learners, working alongside their Agriculture and Biology teacher, have also developed an Automated Solar-Powered Water and Seed Sower Machine designed to make farming more efficient and cost-effective.
The two innovations attracted widespread interest from farmers, researchers, educators and other stakeholders during the Kaimosi Agricultural Expo 2026, where the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) sponsored the school’s participation and provided a platform to showcase the innovations.
Promoting innovation and transforming creative ideas into practical solutions is critical to Kenya’s industrialisation agenda and its aspiration to compete with advanced economies such as Singapore and South Korea. Achieving food security requires embracing modern agricultural technologies that enhance productivity while reducing production costs.
The innovations by Agoro Sare High School demonstrated how competency-based learning equips learners to provide practical solutions to societal challenges. Their exhibition at the Kaimosi Agricultural Expo drew significant attention from farmers, researchers, educators and visitors, highlighting the transformative potential of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in driving technological advancement and sustainable development.
KICD sponsored the school’s participation as part of its commitment to promoting learner-centred innovations that address real-life challenges. The initiative aligns with the Institute’s mandate of developing a 21st-century curriculum that nurtures creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills.
Solar-powered farming innovation
The Automated Solar-Powered Water and Seed Sower Machine was among the outstanding innovations presented during the 2026 Kenya National Science and Engineering Fair.
The innovation was developed by Mr Danielle Winyo, an Agriculture and Biology teacher at Agoro Sare High School, together with learners Godwins Ouma and Vincent Omwamba, under the leadership of the school’s Chief Principal, Dr Isack Okeyo Ogol. Their inventions demonstrate the practical application of knowledge and competencies acquired through CBC in addressing community challenges.
The Automated Solar-Powered Water and Seed Sower Machine is designed to improve agricultural productivity by reducing labour requirements and saving time. The machine performs multiple farming operations simultaneously, including ploughing, harrowing, seed dispensing and covering, irrigation, and fertiliser application. It also features a security coding system that allows users to programme its operations while protecting it from unauthorised use and damage.
The school also showcased another innovation dubbed “Sparrow”, a robotic bird-control device developed to protect rice and wheat farms from destructive quelea birds. The machine detects birds, scares them away and sprays deterrent chemicals, thereby minimising crop losses and enhancing food security.
KICD backs learner innovation
The Kaimosi Agricultural Expo 2026, held at the Kaimosi Agricultural Research and Training Centre in Nandi County, was officially closed on August 7, 2026, by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, accompanied by Head of Public Service and Chairman of the Kaimosi Agricultural Research and Training Centre Felix Koskei, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, Emgwen MP Josses Lelmengit and Tinderet MP Julius Melly, among other dignitaries.
Prof Charles Ong’ondo, KICD Chief Executive Officer, encouraged learning institutions to be more innovative and come up with solutions to address societal challenges.
“KICD provides a platform for innovations and exposes institutions such as Agoro Sare High School to relevant agencies to harness their talents and innovations for the benefit of both the innovators and society by providing practical solutions to societal challenges,” said Prof Ong’ondo.
He noted that the Competency-Based Curriculum is equipping learners with the knowledge, practical skills, values and innovative mindset needed to solve real-life challenges.
“The innovations showcased at the Expo are clear evidence that CBC is producing creative problem-solvers capable of contributing to food security, sustainable development and national prosperity,” he added.
School seeks patent protection
Commending the ingenuity demonstrated by the learners and their teacher, Mr Joshua Nyakundi, Assistant Manager, Research and Innovations at the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), encouraged Agoro Sare High School to register the innovations with KIPI to secure patent protection.
“Intellectual property protection is essential in safeguarding innovative ideas from unauthorised use while enabling inventors to benefit from their creativity,” said Mr Nyakundi.
Mr Winyo said the school was at an advanced stage of securing patent protection for the innovations and appealed to development partners to collaborate with the institution in commercialising the technologies.
“We are ready to work with development partners to solve societal challenges through innovation,” said Mr Winyo.
KICD officers, led by Mr Nathaniel Gitonga, Principal Curriculum Development Officer, and Mr Erick Omulo Ribba, Assistant Director, Corporate Communication, engaged education stakeholders and members of the public by highlighting the Institute’s mandate, programmes and services. They also responded to enquiries and provided information on curriculum reforms and curriculum support materials available to learners, teachers, parents and other stakeholders.
Student innovator Godwin Ouma urged the Government to invest more in learner innovations to spur economic growth and nurture talent.
“Kenyans are talented, but many innovations remain unexploited in addressing societal challenges, particularly in agriculture,” he said.
The Kaimosi Agricultural Expo brought together government ministries, research institutions, learning institutions, innovators, industries, farmers and development partners to showcase emerging technologies and innovations aimed at transforming the agricultural sector.
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Through its participation, KICD continues to demonstrate its commitment to promoting quality, relevant and competency-based education that equips learners with the knowledge, skills and values needed to address contemporary societal needs and contribute to national development.
By Erick Omulo Ribba-PCO
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