Being the sub-taskforce of the Africa-ai-JAPAN Project that is involved with research and innovation activities that are a result of application and use of indigenous knowledge in Engineering, iPIC has endeavored to fulfill its obligation within the project’s scope. To succeed in this, the sub-taskforce has cascaded its activities into five key and comprehensive activities in which members have been grouped and their intended task/s, achievements and challenges are discussed in the weekly sub-taskforce meetings. Each Key Activity group has a lead member that offers leadership in their respective meetings and in execution of their tasks as well as report to the sub-taskforce meeting the progress and challenges of their undertakings.
The following are the Key Activities, members involved in them and the achievements so far:
| KEY ACTIVITY | Membership | Activities to be Undertaken | Progress/Achievements | |
| 1. | Training Programs | Team Leader Dr. Eng. H. Ndiritu Members: Dr. M. Hawi Dr. E. Nduati Dr. J. Maithya |
• Develop Engineering based short courses to be offered at JKUAT to interested students (JKUAT and PAUSTI), interested staff and the general public.
• Collaborate with NTSA in developing a course for Motorcycle riders and Taxi drivers. • Have long term • Collaboration with Daikin company with plans to set up training facility on air conditioning & maintenance in JKUAT underway. • Short term training |
• International Finance Corporation (IFC) Green Building Training Course for Universities set for rollout in JKUAT. -Plans underway to mount the course in COETEC. -Agreement forwarded to Linkages and Legal office for processing. • Affordable housing course finalized and an advertisement done on the College, Engineering Workshops and Project websites. • 5-day module for Aluminum Fabrication short course development complete and course advertisement flier being designed. • Liaison with Kenya Civil Aviation for TOT training on operation of drones. • Proposal developed by ABED team on rice harvesting and drying mechanization; for Sanyo Inc. was approved by JICA. • Curriculum from Isuzu East Africa is being sort to give a guideline in developing the course for Motorcycle riders and Taxi drivers. • Two staff Ms. Joan and Mr. Solomon in Japan for long term training. • Graduate assistants’ policy to be presented at regular Senate. • Several staff members set to pursue PhD. in Japan, they are: B. Oboso, D. Wambua, and I. Krop to leave for Japan in October 2021. K. Murimi and H. Guyo to leave later. • Short term certification course on air conditioning & maintenance suggested. • Mechanical Engineering interns sent by government to join JKUAT for one year internship reported at the Engineering Workshops. |
| 2. | Research Activities on STI |
Team Leader Prof. C. Kanali Members: Prof. G. Nyakoe Dr. J. Mutua |
• COVID 19 project on Mechanical Ventilator.
• Establish a Museum of Technology. • Coordinate research activities funded by JICA Research Fund within the College of Engineering and Technology. • Flagship Research Area-Sustainable Waste Management PAUSTI Students’ Projects |
• Equipment received and development of the Ventilator ongoing.
• Draft proposal is under development. • Booklet of synopses for all funded research activities compiled and submitted to project office. •First disbursement of funding done for all categories and accounting of the same completed. •PAUSTI launched innovation excellence to incubate the best projects by PAUSTI students |
| 3. | Equipment Maintenance and Repairs | Team Leader Mr. D. Omondi Members: Dr. P. Kihato Dr. B. Owiti Mr. D. Nderi Mr.B.Maniafu Mr. S. Kariuki |
• Facilitate and monitor repair and maintenance of Scientific Equipment within the University through CeSEM.
• Equipment for flagship research. • Develop, through indigenous knowledge and innovation, equipment for use within the University to ensure compliance of COVID-19 health protocols by the government of Kenya. • Provision of a Server to be used by iPIC |
• Scientific Equipment Repairs and maintenance ongoing and various departments have benefited from repairs of broken down University scientific equipment at CeSEM. Project office has supported the initiative through procurement of required parts for replacement and tools for use at CeSEM while JKUAT has availed staff to work.
•Quotations for flagship research equipment that were not procured in the previous financial year have been forwarded to JICA Kenya office for procurement – total of 12 equipment •IPIC is exploring engaging KEBS to consider JKUAT as calibration center for other equipment within and outside JKUAT. • 10-foot operated hand • Automatic hand washing machine – the Director, PAUSTI has approved funding for further development. • There is a consideration to develop a hand sanitizer station. • iCCATs has procured a server to be shared within the University but iPIC is following up on having a server at iPIC building for use with Engineering softwares. |
| 4. | Industrial Linkages | Team Leader Dr. Arch. D. Karanja Members: Dr. R. Ndeda Dr. J. Munyalo Mr. G. Mwangi |
• Engage and plan Industry visits and come up with areas of collaboration.
• Initiate and facilitate by help of the project office, Innovation Incubation Seminars Develop content through video, posters and other forms of media content for publicity of iPIC activities |
• Visited Top-Quality Motors and agreed on development of Spray-painting booth and other automotive related parts. –Model design for Spray-Painting Booth complete, costing finalized and presented to CEO of Top Quality Motors on 27th January, 2021. Awaiting feedback from Top Quality Motors – Top Quality Motors have put a challenge on venturing in electric cars training and research. –Subsequent meeting arranged in 3 weeks time. • Kenya Space Agency: Funded Research Chair on Nanosatellite development. • Daikin Company: Proposed Industrial Linkage with JKUAT – an MOU with JKUAT being drafted with setting up a center of excellence for air conditioning systems maintenance at JKUAT being an item of collaboration. • Industrial Journal collaboration mapped out •Collaboration with Association for Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) • Collaboration between JKUAT and Isuzu East Africa complete • Numerical Machining Complex: MoU between JKUAT and NMC renewed. •There are engagements on upscaling of Incubation Box and the University Upscaling committee has requested for funding to facilitate this as part of commercialization. • Several seminars initiated and coordinated by iPIC sub-taskforce conducted where Engineering based Industry guests have made innovation presentations. More seminars on schedule. • A video shoot has been planned to be undertaken at the Rapid Prototyping Laboratory 2 facilitated by Dr. James Mutua. |
| 5. | Global Partnerships | Team Leader Dr. J. Kimotho Members: Dr. M. Ruthandi Mr. B. Oboso Ms. C. Onyango Eng. B. Mathenge |
• Collaborate with other Universities across the globe on areas of mutual interest through research, conferences/seminars and other viable activities. | • Planned online meeting with Can Tho University (Vietnam) and Nagasaki University (Japan) to enhance research collaboration opportunities
• Ongoing interaction with Technical University of Munich (Germany) through the SEED Project. • Collaboration with Kyushu University in Japan has been upscaled and University Legal office is working on draft MOU proposal. |