Juja: The President of Slovenia, Her Excellency Dr. Nata€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡a Pirc Musar, on Monday officially launched The Conduit, a pioneering environmental satellite data hub and smart art installation, at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Juja, Kiambu County.
According to Kenya News Agency, The Conduit is the result of a collaboration between JKUAT's JHUB Africa and the Slovenian Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies (SPACE-SI). The facility aims to leverage satellite-generated environmental data to address urgent ecological challenges, with a focus on cross-border water management and local climate adaptation.
Speaking during the launch, Dr. Musar emphasized the urgency of climate action and the responsibility of smaller nations to lead by example. 'The G20 are responsible for 80 percent of carbon emissions globally. A year and a half ago, Slovenia experienced devastating floods that affected two-thirds of our country. We cannot wait for the G20 to act; we must be vocal and take action wherever we are,' she said.
She went on to encourage bold, values-driven leadership and citizen engagement in tackling the climate crisis. Quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, Dr. Musar added, 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' She further expressed her support for Africa's call for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, stressing the need for inclusive and equitable global decision-making.
JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Professor Victoria Wambui Ngumi, welcomed the Slovenian delegation and reaffirmed the university's and Kenya's commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility. 'Science must help society. This is not just a gesture of goodwill but a blueprint of how small missions and target ideas can save the world,' she said.
She also expressed her intention to collaborate with water governance institutions interested in advancing sustainable solutions, saying, 'I am willing to work with all water governance companies that will be willing.'
The Conduit embodies the theme 'Translating Policy into Practice: Slovenia and Kenya Empowering Communities, Protecting Ecosystems, Fostering Peace.' It seeks to make high-level satellite data accessible to grassroots communities, enabling them to adapt to the impacts of climate change through local innovations and evidence-based policy development.
Among the facility's initial projects is a digital twin and live satellite data initiative hosted at JKUAT, designed to simulate and monitor environmental patterns in real-time. Another project will promote smart beekeeping and alternative livelihoods in Wajir and Samburu Counties, supporting communities affected by climate variability. In addition, satellite-enabled agricultural tools will be deployed to help smallholder farmers in Northern Kenya make data-driven decisions regarding crops and water management.
The event marked a significant milestone in Kenya-Slovenia relations and underscored a shared commitment to advancing environmental innovation and resilience. Also present at the commissioning were the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala; Kiambu Governor, H.E. Kimani Wamatangi; Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa; and Kiambu Woman Representative, Hon. Anne Wamuratha.
As part of the installation, sensors have been placed both above and below the soil surface to monitor moisture levels and generate real-time data for use in research and local decision-making.