In a move to bridge the gender gap in Science and Technology, the Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENA) has announced the launch of over 15 mobile science laboratories targeting primary and secondary schools across Kenya. The initiative, officially set to be unveiled on Wednesday, is part of the foundation’s wider campaign to foster early interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) among girls.
Speaking ahead of the launch in Nairobi, ENA Chief Executive Dr. Jennifer Riria emphasized the need for action over complaints, citing the long-standing exclusion of women and girls from scientific fields as a barrier to Kenya’s full development.
“Our business is to be proactive. The days of blaming others are over. We must work ourselves and achieve results,” said Dr. Riria. “You don’t empower a mother, you disempower an entire generation.”
The mobile labs, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education’s School Equipment Production Unit (SEPU), are designed to serve clusters of schools, especially in under-resourced rural counties. Each unit contains essential scientific tools and materials to help learners explore core science concepts through practical, hands-on learning.
ENA has also committed to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SEPU to formalize collaboration on the manufacture, training, and distribution of the labs nationwide.
The foundation is currently active in over a dozen counties, including Busia, Meru, Migori, Samburu, Narok, and Tana River, with plans to expand its reach even further.
Dr. Riria noted that past efforts had already shown impressive results. “In one school, girls moved from D+ to scoring A’s in mathematics. Five girls went on to study science at university. It shows that when we start early and support them, they thrive.”
The program specifically targets young learners in primary schools, aiming to shape their attitudes and ambitions before societal stereotypes take root. “Girls must start seeing themselves as scientists, astronauts, and engineers—not just secretaries or teachers,” she said. “It’s time we send a Kenyan woman to the moon.”
The donation event on Wednesday will be attended by Ministry of Education officials, diplomats, school representatives, and development partners. ENA hopes the initiative will eventually cover all 47 counties and scale to thousands of schools. Kenya currently has more than 28,000 public primary schools, highlighting the need for more widespread investment in science education.
The foundation urged citizens, development agencies, and the private sector to partner in the effort, likening the mission to President John F. Kennedy’s famous appeal: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
“We want to raise at least 10 new women scientists in the next five years,” Dr. Riria declared. “And that will be a win for all of us—for our girls, our communities, and our nation.”
