Kenya has made notable progress in the 2024 Global Innovation Rankings. The country achieved the 96th position worldwide, up from 100th the prior year. This improvement reflects Kenya’s commitment to enhancing its innovation landscape.

The report by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) highlights this commitment. The country scored 21.00 points, a slight decrease from 21.24 points in the prior year. Nevertheless, it still marked a significant advancement in its overall ranking among approximately 130 economies assessed.

In the Sub-Saharan region, Kenya ranked sixth, trailing behind Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana, Cabo Verde, and Senegal. The report indicates that Kenya has made the largest improvement in the region. It moved up four ranks and demonstrated notable advancements in innovation outputs.

This is particularly clear in the knowledge and technology sectors. This progress positions Kenya as a leader in East Africa, surpassing its neighbors Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.

The Global Innovation Rankings are determined by averaging scores from two sub-indices. These are the Innovation Entry Index and the Innovation Output Index. Switzerland continues to hold the top spot globally.

Other innovative countries like Sweden, the United States, and Singapore follow behind. Conversely, countries like Burundi, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso ranked at the bottom of the list. This highlights the disparities in innovation capabilities across the continent.

The report’s release follows President William Ruto’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to innovation in Kenya. During a recent event, he highlighted the importance of various government initiatives.

These include the Presidential Innovation Challenge and the Hustler Fund. They support innovative ideas and ventures. Ruto’s administration aims to cultivate an innovative mindset across all sectors. This effort reinforces the government’s dedication to enhancing Kenya’s position in the global innovation landscape.