Two JKUAT students, Masai Abel Jevayi and Shihembetsa Edna Mugoshi, emerged tops in the just concluded Huawei Android Application Challenge , an initiative aimed at promoting the culture of science and innovation among university students in Kenya that was jointly organized by Huawei Technologies, Safaricom Limited and three local Universities – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture, University of Nairobi and Moi University.
Abel Masai receiving his prize (second from right)
Jevayi was declared the overall winner in a competition that had attracted 80 students drawn from the three participating universities for developing an a mobile telephone application software – KaroPay; that can allow students and parents to pay fees through their mobile phones. The winning software said to have greatly impressed panelists drawn from Huawei Technologies, Safaricom, Kenya ICT Board and the Ministry of Higher Education operates on mobile money transfer schemes either Java or Android platforms through MPESA, Airtel Money, Yu Cash among others.
Shihembetsa Edna Mugoshi explaining her project to Bob Collymore, Safaricom CEO
Under the theme ‘enriching life through communication’, the contest was further categorized into five subthemes of education, lifestyle, entertainment, health and agriculture. Another JKUAT student, Shihembetsa Mugoshi, clinched fifth position for his mobile software, Manyatta, that enables property owners and seekers to upload their goods. The game changing tool provides a virtual meeting point for real estate dealers and prospective buyers.
The event officiated by Mr. Bob Collymore, CEO- Safaricom Ltd, was attended by among others Mr. Li Dafeng, President of Huawei East and South Africa Region, Ambassador Bruce Madete from the Ministry of Information and Communication, Prof. Harry Kaane, Education Secretary, and Prof. Nderu, Dean School of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering, representing Prof. Mabel Imbuga the Vice Chancellor.
The second and third positions were won by students from Moi University while University of Nairobi was the fourth run-up respectively.