The Directorate of Career Service, University Industry Linkage, and Alumni Affairs facilitated student participation in the Origin Fest Hackathon, hosted by DeKUT. Universities in attendance included Dedan Kimathi University (host), Karatina University, Murang’a University, and Kirinyaga University.
The Origin Fest Hackathon, held from the 18th to 20th of October 2024, at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), brought together innovative minds from various Universities. The event, organized under the theme “Co-innovation for Africa’s Future,” provided a platform for students to develop creative solutions across key sectors such as Agriculture, Climate Change, Health, Community Development, and Governance.
Karatina University emerged as the overall winner, securing the first position in the competition. The winning team, Afrifarms Innovators, consisted of five students: Lewis Lennox, Peter Muraya, Steve Goiche, Bromick Russells, and Irene Njoki. They developed an AI-driven solution designed to provide real-time agricultural information to remote farmers. The AI solution accessible through a USSD platform, ensures that even farmers in remote areas without internet access or smartphones can benefit from real-time data. The aim of the project is to enhance crop yields, reduce farming losses, and improve food security by bridging the information gap faced by rural farmers.
The participation of Karatina University was a resounding success. The victory reflects the University’s commitment to fostering innovation and equipping students with the skills to contribute to Africa’s future development.
Winners of the event