From safety and security to artificial intelligence in agriculture and smart technologies, Kabarak University students demonstrated their ability to turn innovative ideas into practical solutions at the Inter-University Hackathon 2026, securing three podium finishes in a highly competitive national event.
Hosted by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in November 2026, the hackathon brought together innovators, technology enthusiasts and student teams from approximately 25 universities across Kenya. A total of 48 teams participated, presenting technology-driven solutions to real-world challenges.
Held under the theme, “Harnessing AI, Emerging Technologies and University Talent for Sustainable Societal Transformation,” the competition provided a platform for students to showcase their creativity, technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
Projects were presented across several thematic areas, including safety and security, the blue economy, cybersecurity and digital trust, AI in tourism and hospitality, robotics and extended realities, climate change and environmental sustainability, agriculture and agribusiness, public and personal health, social impact, and AI in transport and mobility.
Three Teams, Three Podium Finishes
Kabarak University stood out through the performance of three student teams, each earning recognition in its respective category.
- Safety and Security: Category Winners
The Stack Overflow team emerged as winners in the Safety and Security category. The team comprised:
- Moses Jedidiah
- Darius Kipchumba
- Brian Waambia
- Dennis Karume
- Glenn Kazera
- AI in Agriculture: Runners-up
In the AI in Agriculture category, the Kabarak University team secured the runners-up position. Its members were:
- Morgan Mooka
- Dennis Rotich
- Isaiah Wabwire
- Internet of Things (IoT): First Runners-up
The Smart Herd team earned the first runners-up position in the Internet of Things (IoT) category. The team comprised:
- Bravin Kulei
- Ivy Chebet
A Strong Showing in Emerging Technologies
With one category win, one runners-up position and one first runners-up finish, all three Kabarak University teams earned recognition at the competition. Their performance across safety and security, AI in agriculture, and IoT highlights the breadth of student innovation and the growing application of emerging technologies to challenges affecting different sectors.
Beyond the awards, the hackathon offered students an opportunity to test their ideas in a competitive environment, exchange knowledge with peers from other institutions and engage with the wider innovation community. It also provided valuable exposure to the process of transforming academic knowledge and research ideas into functional prototypes with potential for further development, intellectual property protection and commercial application.
Kabarak University also acknowledges the mentors who guided the participating teams through the preparation and competition stages. Their technical input, encouragement and practical guidance helped the students strengthen their ideas and prepare for the challenge.
Building on the Momentum
The results provide a strong platform for advancing the University's innovation and entrepreneurship agenda. The next step is to build on these achievements by supporting promising student ideas beyond competitions and creating pathways for their development into practical, scalable solutions.
Students, academic staff, researchers and industry partners are encouraged to work together in identifying innovative ideas, strengthening mentorship, supporting prototype development and exploring opportunities for intellectual property protection, incubation and commercialisation.
As the University continues to nurture talent in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, smart systems and other emerging technologies, these achievements offer a glimpse of what students can accomplish when creativity, technical skills and practical problem-solving come together.
