Kenya targets Sh230bn from indigenous knowledge assets

Kenya traditional artefacts displayed at the Uhuru Gardens museum, Nairobi. [File, Standard]

Kenya has untold wealth locked up in indigenous knowledge. According to data from the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), the indigenous knowledge intellectual assets economy in Kenya is estimated to be worth Sh230 billion annually.

 It is under this background that in a forum dubbed the International Investment Conference and Trade Fair on Indigenous Knowledge Intellectual Assets, NMK through its Natural Products Industry (NPI) programme has now built an initiative that is meant to partner with local communities to document and digitise their indigenous knowledge systems in order to commercialise them.

 According to National Museums of Kenya Chairman, Edwin Abonyo, the plan is now to shift the focus from preservation of heritage to its practical use in driving enterprise, innovation and livelihoods.

 Abonyo notes that great economic opportunities lie in indigenous knowledge.

 He said that for a long time, indigenous knowledge systems have been excluded from formal economic systems; they have been undervalued in policy frameworks and have become vulnerable to exploitation especially by foreigners.

 “There is no doubt that Kenya is endowed with a rich heritage, thanks to the cultural diversity of its communities. From the pastoral north to the tourist coastal south, to the farmlands of eastern, western and Central Kenya, these communities have been sustained by the wisdom and knowledge they have accumulated over the centuries,” Abonyo says.

 He however said the modern lens tend to view this knowledge as rudimentary, a thing of the past occasionally celebrated and mentioned in the context of the history.

 Considering the indigenous knowledge intellectual assets economy in Kenya is estimated to be worth Sh230 billion annually, this viewpoint robs Kenya an opportunity that indigenous knowledge presents to become a powerful economic asset to our nation.

 "It robs us of the opportunity to leverage indigenous knowledge to innovate and produce home-grown products that are authentic to culture, protective of owners and competitive globally," he says.

 The NMK, in an effort to make sure indigenous knowledge opportunities are fully exploited in an entrepreneurial manner, has now partnered with communities to document and digitise their indigenous knowledge systems.

 According to Abonyo, the Indigenous Knowledge Documentation and Digitisation (IKDoDi) project which was piloted in 13 counties, is a clear indicator that the project is ready for scale-up in the remaining counties. 

 “This knowledge is now safely stored in the Indigenous Knowledge Innovation Bank (InKiBank), a platform that serves as a repository and mechanism for governance, access and benefit-sharing,” says Abonyo.

 “Communities retain ownership of their assets as investors and researchers are able to engage with confidence, knowing that there are clear frameworks for access, use and equitable benefit-sharing.”

 Obonyo says already, more than 40 indigenous assets have undergone the rigorous processes of documentation, intellectual property audits, standardisation and commercial viability assessments to become real, market-ready opportunities.

 Some of these indigenous assets include traditional foods and local cuisines for enhanced nutrition and food security, performing arts for the creative economy, heritage sites for cultural tourism, indigenous technologies for industrialization and traditional medicines for one-health.

 “These sub-themes offer a peek into specific potential areas of commercialisation. For instance, more people are becoming health-conscious, leading to a growing global demand for healthy and sustainable diets. Indigenous Kenyan foods are nutrient-rich and flavourful, presenting opportunities in agribusiness, food processing and nutrition,” Abonyo stressed.

 “Performing arts, which include music, dance, storytelling and sports, could thrive in entertainment, advertising and recreation.”

 He notes that heritage sites could offer immersive tourism experiences for tourists to engage deeply with the local culture and environment. Equally of interest are indigenous technologies, which define the techniques communities developed and adapted to solve local technical challenges. Some include food preservation, architecture and culinary techniques.

 “This space is a great opportunity for the growth of cottage industries and MSMEs, which in turn can create jobs and strengthen local economies. In the health sector, traditional medicine remains a key complementary alternative for many Kenyans.

 The official says benchmarking in successful countries such as China on artemisinin, a lifesaving malaria treatment, or India on Ayurveda could help catapult Kenyan traditional medicines and treatments to the global sphere.

 "Finally, the InKiBank sui generis platform will enable respectful investor engagement by providing a structure for accessing material," he says in conclusion.