University students are increasingly adopting and embarking on crucial innovations that are geared towards solving a myriad of challenges facing the country and communities.
The student-led innovations span diverse fields, including ICT, Engineering, Agritech, fintech, and healthtech, among others.
At the Commercialisation and Entrepreneurial Institutional Leaders (CEIL) Summit 2025 held by the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), several student-led innovations were hailed as transformative, as calls were made to higher learning institutions to invest heavily in Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Some of the notable innovations by students at Zetech University include Tugawe Feedback by Joy Mwende, Paul Wako, and Brian Mtana, an AI-powered, real-time customer feedback system for the hospitality sector that integrates with payment systems and WhatsApp.
Saadia Essa has invented the Job Matching Resume Tool —an innovative tool that uses algorithms to match job seekers with roles aligned with their strengths and aspirations. Ian Cheruiyot, another student, has invented The Smart Gate- a Multi-layered access control system for infrastructure security.
Others are Block Creative- a Blockchain-based platform to help digital creatives protect intellectual property and monetise content, Krypton Baitbox- a Smart, eco-conscious pest control solution addressing environmental and health concerns and Chama Management System- a System to manage community savings groups (chamas) more efficiently.
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Students Kevin Gitau and Moses Majengo have invented Airsafi- a system that monitors air quality index and provides real-time alerts about pollution to communities and industries, while Francis Ng’ang’a has invented the Advanced Face Recognition System- a Biometric security system scanning faces and iris patterns to affirm identity for secure access.
Other innovations include the Water Quality Monitoring System, a System designed to monitor water quality in real-time by Michael Kamau, and the Smart Pest Deterrent System, a Technology solution to keep pests away from farms, which has gained attention from industry bodies.
Zetech University Vice Chancellor Prof Njenga Munene said that the recognition of the innovations and contributions of the Zetech University’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology (iZET) Hub, the institution’s flagship centre for innovation and entrepreneurship operating under the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies.
“It further cements our position as a leading technology hub for transformative education and innovation in Kenya,” he said.
He noted that through flagship initiatives such as the Wezesha Incubation Programme and strategic partnerships with industry experts, the iZET Hub has catalysed student-driven solutions and ventures that are both innovative and impactful.
The VC further quipped that by integrating academic theory with practical application, iZET Hub has not only strengthened students’ innovative capabilities but also delivered measurable social impact, demonstrating how student-led ecosystems can drive sustainable development and societal transformation.
“Over the past years, Zetech University has led in organising workshops, hackathons, mentorship programmes, and community engagement projects, equipping students with critical digital skills and entrepreneurial mindsets,” he averred.
Prof Munene added, “The iZET Hub is tangible proof of how universities can function as powerful engines of innovation, preparing young leaders who design solutions for both national and global challenges.”
At the Summit, the Head of Public Service, Mr Felix K. Koskei, officially backed the establishment of Student-Led Innovation Clubs across 11 universities as part of a national strategy to nurture grassroots innovation.
By Kamau Njoroge
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