Zetech University has emerged the overall champion of the National Inter-University Hackathon, beating 27 other institutions in a high-energy competition hosted at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). Egerton University took second place as students from across the country showcased cutting-edge innovations shaping Kenya’s digital future.
Zetech’s winning project, MinerAI, stood out in the Governance category for its bold attempt to address illegal mining—one of Kenya’s persistent environmental and economic challenges. The solution uses Artificial Intelligence and satellite-based analytics to detect unlawful mining sites, map activities in real time, and provide actionable insights for regulators. Its impact aligns with global sustainability efforts, touching on SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 16 (Peace and Justice).
The award-winning team Kelvin Muriithi, Abdullahi Ismail, Alois Gitau, and Levian Amos said their work reflects the power of young Kenyan innovators to deliver world-class solutions.
“This victory is proof that Kenyan tech talent can solve big governance and environmental problems,” said team leader Muriithi, noting that the project has now earned four major accolades.
The hackathon, themed “Strengthening the Innovation Ecosystem for Sustainable Development Using Ethical AI-Powered Solutions,” also saw Zetech win a category award with their Sauti project under the Culture theme.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Njenga Munene hailed the students, saying their achievements demonstrate what guided mentorship and innovation coaching can unlock. Dean of Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, Dr. Benjamin Muindi, added that MinerAI showcases how ethical AI can reshape governance, environmental protection, and commercial intelligence.
The event was supported by Oracle, KNBS and other partners, underscoring the growing role of universities in driving Kenya’s technology transformation.
. Egerton University took second place as students from across the country showcased cutting-edge innovations shaping Kenya’s digital future.){kind=link}