University students reap big at Konza innovation hub

A journey of a thousand miles was said to start with a single step. This age old adage explains only too well why Machakos University students, the gigs behind the Kings Pyramid brain game, could not hide their joy when Konza Technolopolis City awarded their innovative skills with KES 50,000 cheque during the Konza Innovative forum at a Konza site in Machakos County.

In attendance and to grace the occasion was the PS ICT ministry for Kenya, Jerome Ochieng who commended the brilliance of all the innovations that he said would propel the internet revolution in Kenya and urged for partnerships to enhance the same.

“The government of Kenya has for the financial year 2016/17, spent KES 3.5 B on research, science technology and innovation. This shows the weight and importance the government shows on innovation. People public private partnerships are critical enablers to this agenda.” Adding: “Collaboration to provide financial support and knowledge transfer should be embraced.”

Jerome added that the agenda behind the launch of National Vision 2030 was to make Kenya globally competitive and prosperous country with high quality of life.

Also present at the Innovation Forum for Konza was the able CEO, Konza John Tanui who promised to make big the dream of innovation as Konza’s strongest pillar. He encouraged learners to do more research into what innovations would help alleviate human suffering and make life easier or just more enjoyable. Tanui also affirmed that Konza city would dedicate some floors to the Innovators Group and Digital content generator in the spirit of making the dream live on.

He advised for the use of Bid Data, Artificial Intelligence and Biometrics as some of the technologies that would aid innovation among learners.

The event had drawn able partners of Konza technopolis from different walks including Safaricom PLC, KCB Kenya, Huawei and others who also pledged their support to grow innovation in the country.

Contestants from Meru University had showcased different innovations including how to make animal protein from the BS fly. Other innovations were the ByFusion Technology that makes building blocks from the solution of burnt plastic wastes added to sand at precise rations.

The chairman Konza Technopolis, Dr. Reuben Mutiso handed out the awards to the winners of the day and the two runners up with a great encouragement to students all over the country, to continue using their learning institutions for research and innovation purposes.