The sixth edition of Pwani Innovation Week (PIW) 2025 has officially kicked off in Mombasa, bringing together youth, innovators, policymakers, and development partners to champion 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 highlights the central role of young people in shaping the future of the Blue and Creative Economies through creativity, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven solutions.

Speaking during the opening forum, Alex Chesosi, Chairman of Truly Kenya Limited, underscored the importance of empowering coastal youth to lead transformation and create new opportunities within the region.

“Pwani Re-imagined is about charting a forward-looking transformation of the coastal region — unlocking resilience and prosperity through diversification and youth-led innovation,” Chesosi said.

He also highlighted the Truly Kenya Digital Platform — the country’s first Ethical Social Media Platform developed in partnership with ImagineBC — which seeks to empower content creators by promoting transparency, fair compensation, and responsible digital engagement.

“There are two sides to the youth bulge: the youth dividend and youth disruption. When empowered, youth drive growth; when neglected, they drive instability,” Chesosi added.

Chesosi noted that PIW 2025 builds on the success of last year’s event, which established regional collaborations with Tanzania through the Tanga Yetu Initiative.

This year’s edition expands participation to include innovators, investors, and policymakers from across the East African coastline, promoting stronger cross-border partnerships for sustainable development.

Organised annually by the Swahilipot Hub Foundation, Pwani Innovation Week has grown 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 commended Truly Kenya and ImagineBC for promoting a transparent and inclusive model for the Creator Economy.

“The future of advertising is creator-led,” Itumbi said in a statement shared on X. “Truly Kenya and ImagineBC are piloting a model where viewers are rewarded for 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 PIW 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.