About a year ago, Eng. Dr. Julius Butime, Dean of the School of Computing and Engineering Sciences, Strathmore University and Kenya’s Faraday Battery Ambassador, began raising environmental awareness with his children. He taught them the importance of separating organic waste from non-biodegradable items, a small step with a big vision for sustainability. 

As an electrical engineer dedicated to transforming Africa through technology, Dr. Butime is at the forefront of advancing Kenya’s tech landscape, with a particular passion for energy storage solutions. He firmly believes these solutions are vital to meeting Africa’s growing energy demands.

“With the global shift toward electric vehicles, advancing battery research is critical in enabling nations to make informed decisions,” he emphasizes. Pursuing this mission, Dr. Butime recently attended the Faraday Conference in Newcastle, where he connected with prominent players in the UK’s battery sector. 

The conference provided a unique platform to network with fellow ambassadors from around the world, fostering a collaborative approach to supporting initiatives set to launch in the coming year. This global network offers him and his peers a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities in battery technology, enabling them to leverage each other’s strengths and insights.

Dr. Butime views his role in the Faraday network as an invaluable asset for Strathmore University, positioning it as a contributor to battery research progress. Africa’s battery ecosystem faces significant challenges, particularly around policy frameworks and raw material processing. Addressing these issues, he believes, requires capacity building and investment in battery development. 

“Through academia, we can bridge the skill gap in battery technologies with curriculum interventions, short courses, testing facilities, and research,” he explains. Dr. Butime envisions Strathmore University as a center of excellence for battery research in the region. With the ongoing shift from fossil fuels to renewables, especially with the rise of electric vehicles, Africa needs robust knowledge and local capacity to address battery safety, end-of-life management, and regulatory concerns.

At the heart of his work, is a commitment to teaching and research, combined with a belief in the power of teamwork. For aspiring young researchers, he offers a call to action, highlighting the critical need for dedicated involvement. There is a substantial body of work ahead in developing reliable, safe battery technologies, and Dr. Butime is keen to inspire the next generation to rise to the challenge.

Article written by David Kimathi