Richard Turere from Empakasi village in Kajiado East Constituency has won this year’s Young Inventors’ Prize for his ‘Lion Lights’, becoming the first African to scoop the coveted award.
The invention, to protect livestock from predators during the night, received an ovation across the globe when the 2011 project that he started at the age of 11 was declared the winner of the European Inventor Award after beating two other finalists in the young inventor category during the ceremony in Valencia, Spain.
Speaking after being crowned the winner, the 22-year-old, Turere said that African youth have a lot they can give to the world once presented with opportunities.
“Being recognized at an International level means a lot. It is a good start for African youths to be recognized by the world, as I believe we have a lot we can give to the world. We can also be part of the solutions to the problems the world is facing,” said Turere.
Additionally, Turere expressed his desire for more young inventors in Africa and asked the government to provide youth opportunities because they can accomplish great things.
Turere developed the low-cost lights system, which uses flashing lights mounted on fences to help deter lions from attacking livestock at night—the primary source of income for his community—after growing up close to the Nairobi National Park and witnessing numerous cases of human-wildlife conflicts.
The Lion Lights Project employs a low-cost lighting system that can supplement solar electricity when there isn't much sunshine with wind energy.
As more people embrace his invention, the number of human-wildlife encounters in Kajiado East has significantly dropped.
His project has since been successfully adopted in India, Argentina, Tanzania, Botswana, and Namibia, where it has helped deter various species of animals, such as hyenas, leopards, and cheetahs.
Through the Young Inventors’ Prize, The European Patent Office recognizes initiatives developed by young inventors aged 30 and under
It is open to innovators worldwide and celebrates solutions that work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
