The sixth edition of Pwani Innovation Week (PIW) 2025 has officially kicked off in Mombasa, bringing together youth, innovators, policymakers, and development partners to drive inclusive growth and sustainability across Kenya’s coastal region.
Held under the theme “Pwani Re-Imagined: Youth Agency, Innovation & Sustainability of Coastal Economies,” this year’s forum underscores the vital role of young people in reimagining the region’s future through creativity, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven solutions.
Alex Chesosi, Chairman of Truly Kenya Limited during the forum emphasized the importance of empowering coastal youth to lead transformation and shape the future of the Blue and Creative Economies.
Chesosi said the Truly Kenya Digital- the country’s first Ethical Social Media Platform in partnership with ImagineBC seeks to empower digital content creators by promoting transparency, fair compensation, and responsible digital engagement.
He said that Pwani Re-imagined is about charting a forward-looking transformation of the coastal region — unlocking resilience and prosperity through diversification and youth-led innovation,” said Chesosi.
“There are two sides to the youth bulge: the youth dividend and youth disruption. When empowered, youth drive growth; when neglected, they drive instability.” Alex Chesosi, Chairman, Truly Kenyan.
He noted that PIW 2025 builds on the success of last year’s event, which established regional collaborations with Tanzanian partners through the Tanga Yetu Initiative.
This year’s edition broadens participation to include innovators, investors, and policymakers from across the East African coastline, fostering stronger cross-border partnerships for sustainable development.
Organized annually by the Swahilipot Hub Foundation, PIW has evolved into a premier regional platform for innovation — fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and investment in transformative ideas across the Blue, Green, and Creative Economies.
Denis Itumbi, Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination recently lauded Truly Kenya and ImagineBC for promoting a transparent and inclusive model for the Creator Economy.
“The future of advertising is creator-led,” said Itumbi in a statement shared on X. “Truly Kenya and ImagineBC are piloting a model where viewers are rewarded for their engagement while ensuring creators earn fairly — a structure that aligns with Kenya’s goal to make the creative economy globally competitive and transparent.”
Key speakers at the event include Dr. Kevit Desai, Chairman of Pwani Innovation Week 2025; Salim Mvurya, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports; Professor Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary for Science, Research, and Innovation; and Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir
