In a testament to its research prowess and global relevance, the School of Computing and Engineering Sciences at Strathmore University is celebrating a wave of faculty achievements, wins for the university, and for science, innovation, and communities around the world.

At the heart of this celebration is a string of research recognitions that are pushing the boundaries of healthcare, artificial intelligence, and mental wellness, proof that the School is no longer just participating in global conversations but actively shaping them.

Shaping the Future of African Healthcare Innovation

Faith Siva, a doctoral fellow and lecturer at the school, has earned a place in the prestigious Africa Healthcare Innovation Fellowship. Her selection is a declaration that Strathmore’s research community is rising as a force in healthcare innovation across the continent. It signals a future where African solutions to African challenges are born not from abroad, but from within.

When AI Meets Medical Imaging

In the realm of AI-powered health diagnostics, Dr. Henry Muchiri and Dr. Lesley Wakhu are part of an elite international research consortium tackling a silent epidemic. Urinary incontinence. Using AI-assisted 2D ultrasound image analysis, they are developing a diagnostic approach accessible to even the most resource-constrained settings. In partnership with the University of Sheffield, the World Health Organization, and Hacettepe University, their work holds life-changing implications for millions of women worldwide.

Bright Ideas for Fragile Systems

Meanwhile, Dr. Danny Nyatuka is bringing light to remote clinics through the Bright Health Project, which marries renewable energy with agile health IT systems. In partnership with Orbit Health and the University of West London, the project empowers facilities that operate without consistent power or internet, ensuring that vital medical records and decisions are never out of reach.

His second project is just as urgent. Alongside Dr. Paul Macharia, Faith Siva, Dr. Esther Khakata, and Dr. Betsy Murrithi, he’s leading the Kenyan Neonatal Mortality Risk Predictor, a user-centered innovation designed to transform triage decisions and neonatal outcomes. Grounded in SDG 3.2, this low-cost tool may well be the next lifesaving breakthrough for newborns in low- and middle-income countries.

A Chatbot for the Soul

Mental health, often neglected in the digital age, has found unlikely champions in Dr. Paul Macharia and Irene Misoi. Together with collaborators from the University of Bradford, La Ruche Health, and the University of Nairobi, they are building Dəˈskəs, a web-based chatbot giving Kenyan adolescents a culturally grounded, safe digital space to speak, vent, and heal.

These achievements are more than academic victories; they are bold affirmations of the University’s mission to nurture minds, ignite innovation, and serve society. The School of Computing and Engineering Sciences stands as a hub of knowledge and a launchpad for ideas that heal, empower, and transform.

Article written by David Kimathi