The concept of shared resources, collaborative spaces, and "Libraries of Things" is a powerful and expanding force in Africa’s development. This is especially true in neighboring countries like Uganda and Kenya, where these initiatives are building on a long history of shared resources and collaborative projects. While not all of these spaces operate as traditional tool-lending libraries, they all embody the same spirit. By providing access to knowledge, tools, and community support that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. From bustling urban tech hubs to quiet, rural community centers, this ecosystem is empowering people to create, learn, and build a more innovative future.
These organizations are at the forefront of Kenya's tech revolution, serving as catalysts for entrepreneurship and skill development.
iHub is arguably one of Africa's most well-known innovation centers, having played a pioneering role in the continent’s tech scene. Founded in 2010 by Erik Hersman, it quickly became a central gathering point for Nairobi's tech community, providing a hackerspace and co-working environment. In 2019, iHub was acquired by Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), a leading Nigerian tech incubator, a move that created a "mega-incubator" to scale up tech solutions across Africa.
iHub's core mission is to support early-stage entrepreneurs, programmers, designers, and researchers. It provides a platform for mentorship, business support, and access to a vast network of local and international venture capitalists. Its facilities include specialized labs like the MLab East Africa, which focuses on mobile application development, and the iHub UX Lab, the first open user experience lab in sub-Saharan Africa. The UX Lab’s mission is to promote a user-centered design culture, helping innovators build solutions that genuinely meet user needs.
Founded in 2014, Gearbox addresses a critical gap in Kenya’s economy: the capacity to design and manufacture high-quality, locally relevant products. It is an impact-oriented makerspace that provides an open-access prototyping facility with advanced equipment that would typically be out of reach for small businesses and innovators.
Gearbox operates on a philosophy of openness and collaboration, helping hardware entrepreneurs turn ideas into tangible products. Their Gearbox Academy offers cutting-edge training in design and fabrication, while their incubation services assist in product development and market entry. They have a strong focus on inclusivity, with specific initiatives aimed at lowering barriers for women and people who are homeless, helping them enter a sector historically dominated by men.
Swahilipot Hub is a key player in decentralizing Kenya's tech ecosystem beyond Nairobi. Located in Mombasa, it is a foundation focused on empowering youth through technology, arts, and entrepreneurship. The hub works across three key pillars: Technology, Arts & Culture, and Community Development.
Through programs like "Swahili Tech Women," they provide resources, training, and mentorship to help young people develop digital skills and create innovative solutions. They also operate a community radio station, SwahiliPot FM, which provides local youth with media skills. Their case management program offers personalized mentorship and counseling to connect young people to sustainable employment and educational opportunities.
Sote Hub is a pioneer in rural innovation, founded to bridge the gap between urban and rural opportunities. Located in Voi, Taita Taveta County, it was one of Kenya's first business incubators to be based in a rural area. Its primary objective, therefore, is to turn ideas into businesses by providing a space for young innovators to design market-driven solutions for local challenges.
In addition to this, the hub evolved from an ICT project in local high schools and now provides training and support for young people to start their own enterprises. Moreover, it focuses on solving local problems related to agriculture, environmental change, and the "blue economy."
LakeHub is an innovative non-profit organization that equips young people in the Lake Region with the skills and resources needed to drive positive change. Their mission is to invest in tech education and development. Offering programs that include everything from coding academies to hackathons focused on community challenges.
They have a strong focus on gender inclusion through programs like FemiDevs, which provides scholarships and mentorship to promote women in tech. LakeHub also runs an Alumni Network that has connected over 1,500 youths with relevant technology training and job placements in the last three years.
While less focused on tech, these initiatives function as "Libraries of Things" by providing essential resources to underserved communities.
The Kiwimbi Foundation is a non-profit organization that partners with underserved communities in Busia County, Kenya, to create educational opportunities. Operating under the philosophy of "opportunity through education," the organization's name means "small ripple" in Swahili. Reflecting its goal to create a ripple effect of change through learning.
Kiwimbi's approach centers on locally run libraries and community learning centers. Their programs include:
This growing network of hubs, makerspaces, and community libraries forms a powerful and interconnected ecosystem. Together, they are transforming communities by unlocking local potential and empowering a new generation of Kenyan innovators.
