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The previous quarter was impactful yet exciting. Here's what we have been up to!
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Minds, Machines & Matrices(M3) Workshop |
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We had the pleasure of hosting the Minds, Machines and Matrices Workshop from 6th to 10th July 2026 at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. Tailored for undergraduate students, the workshop combined interactive lectures and practical exercises to cover core mathematical concepts in machine learning, IoT systems, and real-world deployment. All learning resources are available on our website, alongside a YouTube playlist for an enhanced learning experience. Subscribe for a cookie, LOL! |
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Part of our team — Prof. Ciira wa Maina, Mary Kariuki, Samuel Mbugua, Zipporah Mutua and Victor Ruto — attended the Data Science Africa (DSA) 2026 Summer School and Workshop, held at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, from 20th to 24th July 2026. The annual event brought together more than 400 participants from across Africa under the theme “Foundational and Practical Data Science in the Age of Generative AI,” providing an opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, share research, and connect with the wider African data science community. |
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A highlight of the event was the Best Paper Award received by Samuel Mbugua for his paper, “Automated Quality Control of Rainfall Telemetry via a Luenberger Virtual Sensor.” Beyond the technical programme, Uganda’s rich cultural heritage was celebrated as the attendees were indulged in an evening of rhythm and dance at the Ndere Cultural Centre on Thursday, 23rd July. |
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On July 8th 2026, Teofilo Ligawa participated in the International Computer and AI Network (ICAIN) co-creation workshop in Geneva, Switzerland. He attended the AI for Weather Prediction session where he was able to contribute to discussions on scaling existing projects for localised impact. Some of the other topics from other sessions included: Access to AI infrastructure, and AI training skills. Additionally, he took part in the AI For Good Global Summit 2026 where discussions and exhibitions on current AI trends were held. |
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Photo credits: AI For Good Global Summit 2026, Melissa Anchisi (EPFL) |
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We are more than delighted to welcome Zipporah Mutua and Michelle Gesare as research interns at our centre. With them joining the team, we are building up on the body of knowledge that forms the bedrock of our multidisciplinary research in artificial intelligence. |
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James Muiru and Njeri Kahoro have also joined us as KENET-DSAIL interns, through their efforts we are charting new frontiers in solving real-world problems in our continent and beyond. |
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Teofilo had a paper titled “Evaluating Rainfall Timing and Volume of Gridded Precipitation Products” published on MDPI Water. The study investigated IMERG, ERA5, CHIRPS and TAMSAT datasets against the reference dataset, Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO) station network in East Africa. We considered their ability to detect and time rain events, and the ratio of volume reported with reference to TAHMO, after transforming the timeseries. |
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Findings indicated that IMERG had better skill than the others in timing and event detection while CHIRPS and TAMSAT had better skill in mass conservation of volume and capturing fluctuations. Clustering of raw diurnal precipitation cycles into regimes revealed that IMERG and ERA5, with reference to TAHMO, assigned different regimes at 58.1% of the stations. More details about the study can be found here. |
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Redefining Healthcare in the Age of AI |
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Prof Ciira Maina had the pleasure of participating in the Redefining Healthcare in the Age of AI conference from 8th to 10th September where he delivered a talk titled “Leveraging AI for Improved Healthcare in Africa - Turning Challenges into Opportunity”. The talk described DSAIL’s efforts in RHD diagnosis and Orthopaedic monitoring. |
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Between 8th and 12th September 2026, Victor had the opportunity to attend the 19th edition of the European Conference on Computer Vision (ECCV 2026), held in Malmö, Sweden. ECCV is one of the premier international conferences on computer vision held biennially across Europe. He attended several workshops including CV4Ecology (Computer Vision for Ecology) and AICC-2 (AI for Climate and Conservation), where he engaged in fruitful conversations with fellow researchers who apply computer vision in addressing challenges in biodiversity conservation and the environment. |
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At the main conference, he had the opportunity to listen to keynotes from leading industry researchers including Yann LeCun, Kristen Grauman, and Jamie Shotton, as well as spotlight oral presentations in different areas including 3D reconstruction, generative vision, embodied intelligence and multimodal AI. |
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San Diego Wildlife Zoo Alliance Collaboration |
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DSAIL and the Conservation Technology Lab at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) are collaborating on efforts to develop and deploy conservation technology in Kenya. As part of the partnership, DSAIL will be hosting a 30-week fellowship for recently graduated students with degrees in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or related fields from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT). |
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Between 21st and 25th September 2026, James had the opportunity to participate in the 14th International Summer School and Conference on Applied Geoinformatics for Society and Environment (AGSE 2026), held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana. The conference brought together researchers and practitioners to explore the theme “The Challenge of Climate Change & Geoinformation Solutions.” |
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At the conference, he presented, together with Prof. Moses Murimi Ngigi, their research titled “Development of a Web-Based GIS Decision Support System for Chia Cultivation and Sustainable Substrate Reuse in Oyster Mushroom Farming: A Case Study of Central Region Kenya.” The study explores the use of geospatial technologies to support climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable substrate reuse, and data-driven decision-making for farmers. |
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Dedan Kimathi University of Technology - Nyeri, Kenya |
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