KSEF Nationals 2026 Chemistry Projects Ranking: Discover Kenya’s Top 10 Innovations

The Kenya Science and Engineering Fair (KSEF) Nationals 2026 showcased impressive scientific creativity and innovation among Senior School students across the country. In the Chemistry category, learners presented research projects addressing environmental pollution, renewable energy, water purification, agricultural challenges, material science and chemical analysis.

The final ranking report lists 32 competing projects from different regions of Kenya, highlighting the growing contribution of school-based scientific research to solving real-world problems.

Leading the national Chemistry rankings was Kangema High School, whose project, Purification of Motor-Engine Fumes, achieved an impressive final score of 67.500.

Nyandiwa Mixed secured second position with a bioethanol production project, while Langalanga Senior took third position with an innovative smart home water defluoridator.

This article presents the complete Top 10 rankings, all 32 listed projects, an analysis of outstanding innovations and practical project development ideas for students preparing for KSEF 2027.

KSEF 2026 Chemistry Top 10 National Rankings

The following are the ten highest-ranked Chemistry projects according to the final totals report.

Position	School	Chemistry Project	Score
1	Kangema High	Purification of Motor-Engine Fumes	67.500
2	Nyandiwa Mixed	Bio-Ethanol Production from Sugarcane Bagasse	59.250
3	Langalanga Senior	Smart Home Water Defluoridator	58.667
4	Utugi Secondary	Curcumin Natural pH Indicator	57.750
5	Ngiriambu Girls	Titrimetric Qualitative Analysis of Nitrates and Oxalic Acid in Kales	57.500
6	Kilifi International	Synthesis of Ammonium Nitrate	56.250
7	Ebusakami Girls	Quantitative Analysis of Calcium Using Complexometric Titration	55.500
8	Kathiani Girls	Use of Aluminium Nanoparticles as Corrosion Inhibitor	55.000
9	Kapenguria Boys	Digital Thermal Quantifier	53.500
10	Mwiki Secondary	Calcium Carbide Fruits	53.167

Source: KSEF Nationals 2026 Chemistry (SS) Project Ranking Report – Final Totals.

Analysis of the Top Three Chemistry Projects

1. Purification of Motor-Engine Fumes – Kangema High School

Final Score: 67.500

Kangema High School emerged as the national leader in Senior School Chemistry with its project titled Purification of Motor-Engine Fumes.

The project addresses one of the major environmental challenges associated with modern transportation: air pollution caused by motor vehicles.

Motor-engine emissions may contain harmful gases and particulate matter that contribute to environmental degradation and respiratory health risks.

A project investigating methods of reducing or treating these emissions demonstrates the potential application of chemistry in environmental protection.

Its first-place position makes it an interesting case study for students interested in environmental chemistry, air quality monitoring and pollution control.

2. Bio-Ethanol Production from Sugarcane Bagasse – Nyandiwa Mixed

Final Score: 59.250

Nyandiwa Mixed secured second position with its project on producing bioethanol from sugarcane bagasse.

Sugarcane bagasse is the fibrous material remaining after extracting juice from sugarcane.

The project explores the potential of converting agricultural waste into a useful energy resource.

Bioethanol is an important renewable fuel that can be produced from biomass through suitable processing and fermentation techniques.

This innovation demonstrates how agricultural waste can become a valuable resource instead of being discarded.

The project offers opportunities for further research into renewable energy, waste management and sustainable industrial production.

3. Smart Home Water Defluoridator – Langalanga Senior

Final Score: 58.667

Langalanga Senior secured third position with its Smart Home Water Defluoridator.

The project focuses on water treatment and the removal of excess fluoride from drinking water.

Fluoride is naturally present in some water sources. However, excessive concentrations can pose health risks, making water treatment an important public health concern.

The smart home concept introduces an opportunity to explore how technology and chemistry can be combined to improve household water quality.

Students preparing for KSEF 2027 can draw inspiration from this project by investigating affordable water purification systems, filtration materials and water-quality monitoring technologies.

Complete KSEF 2026 Chemistry Projects Ranking: Positions 1–32

The following table provides the complete national ranking as presented in the uploaded final totals report.

Position	School	Project Title	Score
1	Kangema High	Purification of Motor-Engine Fumes	67.500
2	Nyandiwa Mixed	Bio-Ethanol Production from Sugarcane Bagasse	59.250
3	Langalanga Senior	Smart Home Water Defluoridator	58.667
4	Utugi Secondary	Curcumin Natural pH Indicator	57.750
5	Ngiriambu Girls	Titrimetric Qualitative Analysis of Nitrates and Oxalic Acid in Kales	57.500
6	Kilifi International	Synthesis of Ammonium Nitrate	56.250
7	Ebusakami Girls	Quantitative Analysis of Calcium Using Complexometric Titration	55.500
8	Kathiani Girls	Use of Aluminium Nanoparticles as Corrosion Inhibitor	55.000
9	Kapenguria Boys	Digital Thermal Quantifier	53.500
10	Mwiki Secondary	Calcium Carbide Fruits	53.167
11	Tumutumu Girls	Extraction of Essential Oils	52.333
12	Emanyinya Secondary School	Redox Determination	52.167
13	SA Chebosi Boys	Timely Fire Extinguisher	50.000
14	Radienya High	Starch-Based Adhesive	48.667
15	Orando	Active Laboratory Safety	47.667
16	Meru School SS	Eggshell-Based Fuel	47.000
17	Ribe Girls	Extraction of P. Acid	46.667
18	Igwamiti	Swanfred Smart Airguard	45.250
19	SCSS Academy	Organic Fertilisers	44.167
20	Moi Forces	Nanosynth H.P	43.000
21	Miathene Boys SS	Smart Water Analysis and Distillation System	42.750
22	Ikuu Boys	Biofuel from Waste Vegetable Peels	42.667
23	Itibo Girls	Arduino-Based Thermodynamic System	42.500
24	Budalangi Secondary	NeutraSense	42.000
24*	Arnesens’s Senior	Smart pH-Based Automated Titration System	42.000
26	Memon SS	Eco Diapers and Sanitary Pads	40.250
27	Wajir Girls	Acid-Induced Casein Biopolymer	38.000
28	Precious Blood Riruta	Smoke Shift	34.667
29	Sheikh Khalifa	Hydropowa	34.250
30	Sheikh Ali	Making Skin Smoother and Anti-Aging Cream	23.833
31	Rhamu Girls	Alternative Healthy Way of Inflating a Balloon	23.667
32	Rhamu Girls	Balloon Extinguisher	18.167

Important ranking note: The original report assigns position 24 to both Budalangi Secondary and Arnesens’s Senior. The next listed position is 26. The table preserves the positions printed in the source rather than independently changing the official ranking.

Major Chemistry Innovation Trends from KSEF 2026

The 2026 Chemistry projects demonstrate several important areas of scientific research that students and teachers can explore further.

1. Environmental Chemistry and Pollution Control

Environmental protection featured prominently in the competition.

Examples include:

• Purification of Motor-Engine Fumes.
• Smart Home Water Defluoridator.
• Swanfred Smart Airguard.
• Smoke Shift.
• NeutraSense.

These projects demonstrate opportunities for investigating pollution detection, water treatment, air purification and environmental monitoring.

2. Renewable Energy and Waste-to-Energy Technology

Renewable energy was another significant area of innovation.

Projects included:

• Bio-Ethanol Production from Sugarcane Bagasse.
• Eggshell-Based Fuel.
• Biofuel from Waste Vegetable Peels.
• Hydropowa.

These innovations demonstrate how locally available waste materials can be investigated as potential resources for alternative energy production.

3. Analytical and Quantitative Chemistry

Several projects concentrated on chemical analysis and laboratory techniques.

Examples include:

• Quantitative Analysis of Calcium Using Complexometric Titration.
• Titrimetric Qualitative Analysis of Nitrates and Oxalic Acid in Kales.
• Redox Determination.
• Smart pH-Based Automated Titration System.

These projects highlight the importance of accurate measurements, experimental procedures, data collection and quantitative analysis in Chemistry.

4. Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials

The use of advanced materials was represented by projects such as:

• Use of Aluminium Nanoparticles as Corrosion Inhibitor.
• Nanosynth H.P.
• Acid-Induced Casein Biopolymer.
• Starch-Based Adhesive.

These projects provide opportunities for further research into sustainable materials, corrosion protection and alternative industrial products.

5. Digital Technology and Smart Chemistry

The integration of electronics and chemical processes is becoming an interesting area of school-based innovation.

Projects included:

• Digital Thermal Quantifier.
• Arduino-Based Thermodynamic System.
• Smart Water Analysis and Distillation System.
• Smart pH-Based Automated Titration System.

These projects demonstrate the potential of combining Chemistry, electronics, programming and engineering.

15 Chemistry Project Ideas for KSEF 2027

Students preparing for the next Kenya Science and Engineering Fair can use the 2026 projects as inspiration while developing original investigations.

The following are suggested project concepts, not confirmed KSEF 2027 entries.

No.	Suggested Project	Research Area
1	Low-Cost Smart Water Fluoride Monitoring System	Water Chemistry
2	Bioethanol Production from Banana Peels	Renewable Energy
3	Natural Corrosion Inhibitors from Plant Extracts	Materials Chemistry
4	Smart Air Pollution Detection and Filtration System	Environmental Chemistry
5	Development of Biodegradable Packaging from Cassava Starch	Polymer Chemistry
6	Natural pH Indicators from Indigenous Plants	Analytical Chemistry
7	Production of Activated Carbon from Agricultural Waste	Water Treatment
8	Smart Automated Acid-Base Titration System	Analytical Chemistry
9	Extraction of Essential Oils from Local Medicinal Plants	Organic Chemistry
10	Development of Natural Food Preservatives	Food Chemistry
11	Production of Biodegradable Adhesives from Plant Starch	Materials Chemistry
12	Heavy Metal Removal Using Modified Agricultural Waste	Environmental Chemistry
13	Solar-Powered Water Distillation System	Physical Chemistry
14	Development of Eco-Friendly Paint Using Natural Pigments	Industrial Chemistry
15	Smart Soil Nutrient Monitoring System	Agricultural Chemistry

How Students Can Prepare Competitive Chemistry Projects for KSEF 2027

The KSEF 2026 results provide useful examples of how students can approach scientific research.

Students and their teachers should consider the following principles when developing their next projects.

1. Identify a real community problem

A strong project should investigate a problem that affects people, the environment, agriculture or industry.

2. Develop a clear research question

Students should establish exactly what they intend to investigate and what scientific question their experiments will answer.

3. Conduct preliminary investigations

Before developing a final prototype, learners should review existing research, investigate available materials and conduct preliminary experiments.

4. Collect measurable experimental data

Scientific projects should include observations, measurements, repeated trials and appropriate data analysis.

5. Demonstrate the working prototype

Where applicable, students should develop a functional model that demonstrates the practical application of their research.

6. Explain the underlying Chemistry

Learners must understand the chemical principles, reactions and processes involved in their innovations.

7. Evaluate the effectiveness of the innovation

Students should compare experimental results against appropriate controls, existing methods or established benchmarks.

Why the KSEF 2026 Chemistry Results Matter for Senior School STEM Education

The Chemistry rankings demonstrate the potential of Senior School learners to investigate scientific challenges using practical research and innovation.

The projects also illustrate how Chemistry can be connected to other STEM disciplines, including environmental science, agriculture, electronics, engineering and materials science.

For teachers, the results provide useful reference points when mentoring learners, identifying research opportunities and preparing school teams for future science competitions.

The increasing interest in smart systems, renewable energy, nanotechnology and environmental solutions also provides opportunities for interdisciplinary project development.

Frequently Asked Questions About KSEF 2026 Chemistry Results

1. Which school emerged position one in KSEF 2026 Chemistry?

Kangema High School emerged first nationally in the Senior School Chemistry category with 67.500 points.

2. Which project won the KSEF 2026 Chemistry category?

Purification of Motor-Engine Fumes, presented by Kangema High School, achieved the highest final score.

3. Which school took second position in Chemistry?

Nyandiwa Mixed secured second position with Bio-Ethanol Production from Sugarcane Bagasse, scoring 59.250.

4. Which school emerged third in Chemistry?

Langalanga Senior took third position with Smart Home Water Defluoridator, scoring 58.667.

5. How many projects were listed in the KSEF 2026 Chemistry ranking report?

The final totals report contains 32 projects.

6. What are some promising Chemistry project areas for KSEF 2027?

Environmental chemistry, water purification, renewable energy, nanotechnology, analytical chemistry, biodegradable materials and smart chemical monitoring systems are promising areas for further investigation.

Conclusion

The KSEF Nationals 2026 Chemistry competition demonstrated the creativity and scientific potential of Kenyan Senior School learners.

From motor-engine fume purification and bioethanol production to smart water defluoridation and nanotechnology, the projects addressed practical challenges with applications in environmental protection, energy, agriculture and industrial development.

Kangema High School led the national rankings, followed by Nyandiwa Mixed and Langalanga Senior.

As schools begin preparing for KSEF 2027, the 2026 results offer valuable inspiration for students, teachers and project mentors seeking to develop innovative, evidence-based scientific solutions.