Applications opened July 10 for KCIC’s 2026 Cleantech Innovation Competition, giving Kenyan early-stage entrepreneurs, innovators and higher-education students until Aug. 10 to submit climate-focused business ideas.
KCIC said the program is meant to surface scalable solutions to Kenya’s environmental challenges and strengthen the country’s green economy through support for commercially viable cleantech ventures.
Priority areas include water management, renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, commercial forestry and waste management, with shortlisted applicants due to hear back by Sept. 15 after August-September evaluations.
Selected participants will receive accelerator support, training, mentorship, investor access and networking through a partnership involving KCIC, the Swiss embassy in Kenya, SICPA and Strathmore University.
The competition is framed as part of Kenya’s broader climate-resilience push, with organizers linking it to multiple UN development goals including clean energy, climate action and responsible consumption.