Design Thinking Hackathon 2025 at Riara University

Innovation, Our Way

Design Thinking Hackathon 2025 at Riara University

Riara University, in partnership with The Technical University of Kenya and Anza Village, proudly hosted the second annual Design Thinking Hackathon Competition from July 18 to 20, 2025. This transformative event brought together young innovators in a dynamic, fast-paced environment to develop solutions using the design thinking process. The five stages of this process are empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping and testing.

This year’s theme, “Sustainable Innovations for Africa’s Future,” attracted over 100 participants from high schools and universities across the country. Among the high schools represented were Light Academy, Nova Pioneer Tatu Girls, Nova Pioneer Tatu Boys, Jawabu School and Runda Academy. Universities in attendance included Riara University, Technical University of Kenya, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Africa Nazarene University, Rongo University, Kenya Methodist University, Cooperative University of Kenya, University of Eastern Africa, Zetech University, Multimedia University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

Opening Ceremony and Speeches

The event began with vibrant energy as a charismatic MC warmed the audience with humor and set the tone for the day’s activities.

Professor Wanja Tenambergen, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs Riara University, described design thinking as an “itch.” She illustrated this through a compelling story about a village boy who noticed a problem with a water pump and rallied his friends to invent a generator that made water easily accessible for the community. “The spirit of design thinking is that curiosity, that itch to find a solution to a problem.”

Professor Robert Gateru, Vice Chancellor of Riara University, welcomed the participants and spoke about innovation. “The future of education is not in the classrooms. It is in spaces like this.” He encouraged students to innovate using the resources they already have, stating that Africa’s future lies in the hands of solution creators.

In a speech read on his behalf, Professor Benedict Mwavu Mutua, Vice Chancellor of the Technical University of Kenya, emphasized the need for inventions that are practical and impactful.
Wangechi Wahome, CEO of Anza Village, addressed the young participants directly. “Being able to innovate early is important” she said. The presence of organizations such as KeNIA, Startup School, NCBA Loop and Konza Technopolis reinforced the collaborative nature of the event and the strength of its support network.

Day One: The Pitch Begins

With the speeches concluded, the event moved into its next phase, project vetting. A total of 28 student groups from both high schools and universities pitched their innovation ideas before a panel of judges. Each group had one minute to present their concept, explain its impact, and communicate why it mattered. This session was led by George Ogada, Programs Manager at Anza Village, and centered around four key themes:

• Climate and Green Innovation
• Smart Agriculture and Agritech
• Inclusive Education and Learning Tools
• Health Innovations

From these pitches, 15 university teams and 5 high school teams were selected to proceed. Each selected student then formed a five-member team drawn from the remaining participants and attendees. The teams included a technical expert, a business strategist, a communication and marketing lead, a designer, and the original idea-pitching team leader.

Later, Esther Kute of Technical University delivered a session on brainstorming and mind mapping. She emphasized the importance of defining problems clearly before attempting to solve them. As students introduced themselves to new teammates, collaboration began in real time. A simple “Hi, my name is…” marked the beginning of partnerships, shared ideas, and possibly even future startups.

Day Two: Building Begins

Day two began early with coffee and mandazi served to the attendees. George Ogada opened the day with a lecture on pitch deck structure, preparing teams to present their ideas effectively. Teams then dived into full-day working sessions. Some began building machines, others worked on software solutions. Around the room, one student worked with a glue gun while another focused intently on their laptop.

There were disagreements, changes in direction, and creative tension. Mentors moved from group to group, asking probing questions, identifying gaps, and helping teams refine their solutions. By the end of the day, each group had a stronger grasp of what they were trying to achieve and how to get there.

Day Three: The Final Pitch

The final day arrived, and with it came the pressure. Students polished their slides, rehearsed their pitches, and finalized their prototypes. By 10:30 a.m., presentations had begun.

High School Teams:

• Itech Hackers
• Anonymous Hackers
• Agrilink
• Uniffy
• Medassist
• Technohisia
• GreenQuest Academy
• AGRILEARN
• Young Engineers

University Teams:

• PikaPoa
• Maxcey Antidiabetic
• Taka Smart
• Salinisha
• Telecure Health
• Eden Recyclers
• Pollihive
• Fit Play
• Verdatek
• Echopack
• Smart Farm Kenya
• UNI SAFE
• Baraka
• LearnWell
• Budget Byte
• Agri Smart AI
• BIT
• Agri Solar
• Jabali

After the final pitches, the judges retreated to deliberate. The atmosphere was tense as students waited for the results. Regardless of the outcome, all participants received certificates of participation to acknowledge their creativity, determination, and willingness to innovate.

Winners and Reflections

In the end, five teams from each category were recognized. Two were named Judges’ Favorites for their creativity and potential, while three were selected as award winners.

• High School Overall Winner: Anonymous Hackers from Jawabu School
• University Overall Winner: Jabali

As the 72-hour hackathon came to a close, the students reflected on the experience. One participant from Riara University said, “This was my first ever hackathon. It was fun. I’ve learned to think outside the box and got the opportunity to network with amazing people.” Another from Zetech University added, “I met people who had skills I didn’t have. We shared knowledge and grew together.”

Although the competition concluded, the spirit of innovation and collaboration that was ignited will continue. When young minds are empowered, they do more than dream of a better future. They start building it.