The Technical University of Kenya staff and students participated in the 2nd edition of the Design Thinking Hackathon themed “Sustainable Innovation for African Growth”, which kicked-off on Friday, 18th July 2025, at Riara University.
The 3-day hackathon provided a unique opportunity for students to transform their ideas into impactful solutions through the power of design thinking. This initiative was a collaboration between the TU-K, Riara University (RU) and Anza Village.
The over 200 young innovators drawn from universities and high schools were pooled into teams where they were trained on how to ideate innovations from scratch, pitch their ideas and commercialise them.
The winning team designed a learning platform for kids with autism called ‘Jabali’. The application takes care of the learning needs of children with autism as well as those of their parents and caregivers.
The team comprised of 6 participants including; Gift Saisi (RU), Dennis Huhu (RU), Lorraine Nyawira (RU), Raphael Nganga (TU-K), Telvin Ochieng (KEMU) and Martine Obwao (TU-K).
The first runners-up developed ‘Eden Recyclers’, a project that focused on promoting the production of pencil leads from paper waste. Their goal was to advance the circular economy within learning institutions by transforming discarded paper into useful products like pencil leads and black shoe polish through sustainable waste management.
The team consisted of Nyaga Karani Abraham (TU-K), Wamina Kelvin Mburu (TU-K), Christine Kaku (ZU), Najma Abdi (RU), Emmanuel Matolo (Zetech University), David Soita (ZU).
The second runners up focused on an energy efficient stove, that is designed to reduce fuel consumption, making cooking more affordable and environmentally friendly. The team consisted of; Brian Gillo (University of Eastern Africa, Baraton) Joe Wawer (RU), Stephen Wambui (ZU), Elian Wanja (RU), Ahmed Nuh (RU)
These teams will proceed to an incubation period in August and September this year.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Prof. Robert Gateru, Vice-Chancellor, Riara University, in his keynote address, commended the young innovators for coming together, to share and use their knowledge to create solutions that Africa needs.
“I want to encourage you, and let you know that the future of Africa is in your hands. It's up to you to shape the direction that this continent takes, that can only happen through the solutions you develop,” said Prof. Gateru.
He also encouraged the hackathon participants to go beyond the classroom, and join networks or associations of like-minded people where they can collaboratively create innovative solutions to challenges that face them.
“Hear me out. The future of education is not in the classroom. The future of education is in spaces like this where young people come together to share knowledge that they access from all the other sources, and use that knowledge to create solutions that we need,” he stressed.
“We cannot do this alone, we are going to do this with our partners and we have a network of vice-chancellors putting together a network of entrepreneurial universities and I know a good number of universities represented here are part of that network because for me really, this is the future of education. The future of education is not in the classroom,” he added.
Prof. Levi Mbugua, Director, Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and technology transfer, represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benedict Mutua. In his speech, read by Prof Mbugua, the Vice-Chancellor, said that the University strongly supports initiatives that spur innovation amongst its students and staff, in order to bridge the unemployment gap as well as solve everyday challenges.
“We aim to inspire both staff and students to develop practical, inclusive, and forward-looking solutions. This is why we actively support initiatives such as hackathons, incubation labs, and exhibition platforms where ideas can evolve from concepts to prototypes and actively create a way for impact,” read Prof Mbugua.
“Therefore, the University is committed to empowering its students while supporting their entire journey from ideation to providing hands-on training, business modeling, prototyping, and venture pitching.
We believe that every student, regardless of his background, has the potential to contribute meaningfully to Kenya's future. Through training, mentorship, and innovation, we aim to reduce youth unemployment, support grassroots enterprises, and build a more resilient Africa.
He also encouraged the students to remain innovative and develop solutions in different fields; from food security, clean energy to education, health, and digital inclusion. Finally he encouraged diversity, collaboration amongst the different institutions in order to develop innovative and scalable solutions.
Some of the universities represented included; Riara University, The Technical University of Kenya, Zetech University, Rongo University, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Africa Nazarene University, Multimedia University, Egerton University, Moi University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Masinde Muliro University, Kenya Methodist University, University of Eastern Africa - Baraton and Embu University.
High school participants were drawn from; Nova Pioneer Boys, Nova Pioneer Girls, Light Academy, Jawabu School, and Regis Runda.
