Varsity students shine at Nairobi trade fair

By Alex Kiprotich

Local universities have emerged tops in innovativeness at the ongoing Nairobi International Trade Fair.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology students have won unmatched public admiration for their technological creativity.

The students say they intend to demonstrate to the country research is the solution to our many socio-economic challenges.

At their stand, the students drew crowds for their four inventions. This saw the institution declared the best research and development organisation.

The students have invented a shoeshine product made from weeds, a computer-based voting system, an automated irrigation system, and a hologram to boost war on counterfeits.

Peter Ogoti is the student behind the shoeshine product. The bio-shoe polish is made out of locally available weed, whose name he declines to reveal. He says he intends to patent the product first.

He insists it is environment-friendly. "Unlike those (shoe polish) in the market, this one has no petroleum products," he says.

The weed is first dried and crushed into powder then soaked in an organic solvent. "The solution is then filtered to remove the solvent using a rotating evaporator," he adds.

Ogoti is a Master of Science student. He says if the shoe polish were produced commercially, it would create jobs besides using a weed that would otherwise be a nuisance.

He collaborates with Prof Gabriel Magoma, the Vice-Chancellor Mabel Imbuga and Dr Esther Magiri in the research.

Michael Kamau and Adrian Mwai, Mechatronic Engineering students, have worked on the electronic voting machine. Kamau says the bungled 2007 presidential election results was their driving force. "We embarked on research to come up with a foolproof voting aid," he says.

The invention is unique, he says. The voter can confirm the accuracy by getting a print out showing the candidate of choice.

"Kenyans need to be sure. They cannot just believe they voted if they only press a button. They need a confirmation," says Mwai.

The voting machine

The two have already earned a date with the Interim Independent Electoral Commission for a presentation.

The system also checks out possibility of multiple voting. Once somebody votes, the name is deleted and the data register cannot recognise the thumb again. "A voter has to put his thumb on the thumb reader to be recognised if indeed one is a registered voter," he says.

The irrigation system is automated and uses solar energy to pump water.

More to it, Elizabeth Mueni says, the system is capable of detecting moisture in the soil to regulate amount of water needed. This means it is only soil with minimum moisture, which is irrigated. "I realised even as the Government plans to invest in irrigation, we still waste a lot of water in drip irrigation," she says.

Mueni, a Biomechanics and Environment Engineering student, says the machine will only release enough water for maximum use.

"A sensor detects soil moisture. It is registered in form of pressure, which is converted into electrical signals to a circuit. This sends a command to the pump switch to either allow water to flow or switch it off," she explains.

Calvine Ominde, a Masters of Science student came up with the hologram for designing security logos to curb counterfeiting.

The invention has advanced security devices to detect fake documents.

"It is a three-dimension emblem that will make it impossible for counterfeits to succeed. It can be applied for both laboratory and commercial use," he says.

"Instead of using water marks on certificates, a unique holograph can distinguish fake from original documents," he explains.

He says his invention would come in handy by the time Kenya realises Vision 2030 goals since rate of forgeries will have gone higher.

"More fake currency notes, bank credit cards, university certificates, sensitive Government documents will find way into the market. The challenge is how do we differentiate authentic documents from fake ones?" poses Ominde.

He says the emblem has three-dimensional special information and can be used by anyone to verify the authenticity of documents.

Ominde partners with Dr Geoffrey Rurimo and Dr George Nyakoe in the project.

The researchers now want the Government to fund them to improve on their inventions.

Mass market

"What we need is the Government to fund such innovations for the mass market to industriliase," said Ogeke Araka, a researcher.

He says the Government should emulate industrialised nations in appreciating technological innovations.

"If we are serious in achieving Vision 2030, our higher education must invest in research and technology, which the Government should fund," he says.