Chemical engineering is often described as the discipline that transforms ideas from the laboratory into processes and products that power industries, improve lives, and sustain societies. It integrates chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics with engineering design to develop processes that convert raw materials into valuable products fuels, fertilizers, plastics, pharmaceuticals and food. In Kenya, chemical engineers have been central to industrialization, food security and energy transformation, aligning with the nation’s long-term development agenda under Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda. Engineering is a backbone of Kenya’s progress, not only in traditional infrastructure but also in manufacturing, water, energy and environmental systems. This broad foundation is where chemical engineering naturally thrives, bridging science and industrial application. Today, the discipline is undergoing a profound evolution, extending from large-scale plants into the nanoscale realm, where atoms and molecules are engineered with precision. This emerging field, known as chemical nanoengineering, holds promise for solving some of Kenya’s most pressing challenges in food, health and sustainable industrial growth. The importance of chemical engineering becomes particularly evident when examining Kenya’s food systems.