By Meshack M. Ngangi | April 16, 2025
Prof. Isaac Nyamongo, the Ag. Vice-Chancellor officially opened the 5th CUK Innovation Week 2025 on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, with a stirring call to action that the University celebrates the transformative power of student-led innovations. Time and again, our Student innovators have demonstrated that when fresh ideas receive the right support, they can reshape how we live, work, and build resilient communities. Yet, such transformation does not occur in isolation. It demands a concerted effort—an ecosystem in which the University, industry, and government unite to provide not only resources but also mentorship, policy frameworks, and market access. Prof. Nyamongo, in his opening address, urged all innovators to harness our collective strengths to nurture responsible innovation—ideas grounded in ethical practice and aimed squarely at delivering tangible value to society.
The inspirational words of the Vice Chancellor elicited a palpable energy in the audience with a blend of excitement, aspiration, and the shared conviction that the innovations on display could indeed change the world. The then CUKSU Chairperson, Mr. Newton Kipleting, built on this momentum by expressing heartfelt gratitude to the CUK Innovation Week Organising Committee for continuously empowering students to turn their visions into reality and share them with a multifaceted audience. His remarks underscored the university’s enduring mission of producing competent human capital through quality education, training, research, and innovation, and to empower communities through outreach for socio-economic transformation, which bridges the gap between raw ingenuity and real-world impact.
Under the watchful guidance of Dr Shem Mbandu, Dean of the School of Computing and Mathematics and Chair of the Innovation Week Organising Committee, industry partners were lauded for seeking out fresh talent and ideas. “Our responsibility is to connect brilliant young minds with the people and organisations who need their ideas most. Indeed, innovation is only powerful when it meets the world’s pressing needs,” Dr. Shem reminded attendees. This ethos came to life as the new CUK Innovation Hub (CUKiHub) was unveiled as an incubator offering state-of-the-art facilities and mentorship, with a designation to shepherd the first Academy cohort and future generations from concept to market.
A series of compelling keynote addresses probed the critical ingredients of a thriving innovation ecosystem in Kenya, drawing speakers from emerging youth-led start-ups. Kevin Atibu, Head of Innovations, representing the CEO, ICT Authority, outlined the policy frameworks and partnerships necessary to accelerate progress from the laboratory bench to commercial success. Mr. Simon Tanui, General Manager Operations and Strategy and the representative of the CEO, National Police DT SACCO, explored how emerging technologies can enhance public service delivery, while Jimmy Kagoni of Promitto Ltd delved into the entrepreneurial mindsets and tools essential for navigating today’s dynamic business landscape. Finally, Victor Boit of VENO Autobotics charted the perilous—but—ultimately rewarding journey from initial idea through prototyping to a sustainable business model, emphasising the need for continuous customer validation and agile iteration.
There came a session for the student innovators to showcase their inventions across disciplines—from software engineering and data science to commerce and internet of things (IoT)—more than twenty projects were pitched in a cut-throat competition. Among the standouts were Eventiva Coloris, a digital assistant streamlining every facet of event planning; GLOW, an AI-driven support platform for homeless individuals; and Project ARISE, an augmented reality tool enhancing surgical precision. Equally impressive were security-focused innovations like the Smart Biometric Pad-lock System and Table Pesa, the latter leveraging blockchain to bolster transparency and trust in women’s table-banking cooperatives. Renewable energy also took centre stage through Sandile Energies, a peer-to-peer trading platform democratizing access to clean electric power, while The CUK App emerged as a comprehensive mobile companion—uniting e-learning, digital libraries, campus maps, and chatbots under a single interface.
On the second day, Dr Lucy Ngare, the Dean of the School of Cooperatives and Community Development, recapped the previous day’s highlights before ushering in guest speakers from beyond the university walls. Javan Victor of AVA Organic Oils shared best practices for scaling agricultural innovations sustainably, and Isaac Ndung’u Muteru recounted his journey from student prototype to successful tech entrepreneur—proof positive that CUK Innovation Week can ignite ventures with lasting societal empowerment and impact.
At the tail-end of the 2025 Innovations Week, Prof Nyamongo returned to the stage to deliver closing remarks and preside over the awards ceremony. The Vice-Chancellor affirmed that the students’ ideas have the power to transform how people live, work, and build stronger communities. The coveted Best Overall award went to Nigel Ooko’s The CUK App; Astra (Latin), an AI-driven sign-language translator, earned Best Male; Sandile Energies of Sharon Kaburu Nkatha, a Software Engineering student at our School of Computing and Mathematics, won Best Female Category; and the Best Male Runners-up went to Book Byte by Keith Kipngeno Cheruiyot, a Computer Science student and GLOW by Dinah Masanda Buyeke as the Best Female runners-up.
In declaring the event a resounding success, Prof. Nyamongo reiterated the university’s commitment to making next year’s Innovation Week even more ambitious. As students, academics, and industry partners departed with fresh insights, new collaborations, and renewed determination, it was clear that CUK’s innovation ecosystem is stronger and has a more promising future.
