Grants won & Projects
My research activities are supported through competitive grants and collaborative initiatives aimed at advancing innovation, education, and societal impact.
Research Grants Won
Africa AI Upskilling Programme for Higher Educational Institutions
Principal Investigator. Developing AI upskilling programmes for higher education institutions across Africa, in collaboration with AIMS and Google.org.
Digital Intervention for Prevention and Early Detection of Depression and Suicide Among Youth in Kenya
Principal Investigator. Research on digital interventions for the early detection and prevention of depression and suicide among youth in Kenya.
Application of Generative AI to Enhance Practical Teaching of Computer Programming
Co-Principal Investigator. Applying Generative AI to enhance practical teaching of computer programming using a high-level language.
Ongoing Projects
University of Embu Counselling Service Platform
Co-led and directly participated in the design and development of a digital counselling service platform to support student mental health and wellbeing at the University of Embu. Contributed to system architecture, feature design, and implementation of core modules for confidential support access, guided self-help resources, and digital screening and referral workflows. Ensured integration of data privacy safeguards, ethical AI use principles, and responsible data governance practices.
AI for Climate-Smart Cowpea Production Initiative
Leading an independent initiative aimed at improving climate-smart cowpea production through field demonstrations, agronomic data collection, and application of digital technologies. The initiative focuses on documenting crop performance, pest and disease occurrence, and production practices to support future AI-driven decision support systems and sustainable agricultural development among smallholder farmers.
AkiliBora: AI-Powered Mental Health Platform for University Students
AkiliBora is an AI-enabled mobile application developed to support the mental well-being of university students through early detection and intervention. The platform integrates a depression screening tool, an AI-powered chatbot for mental health support and suicide prevention, a digital repository of mental health resources, and a secure real-time communication module for connecting students with support services. The project aims to improve access to confidential mental health care, promote early intervention, and leverage data-driven insights to strengthen student wellness programs in higher education institutions.
AI Ethics and Data Governance Youth Capacity Building Initiative
Designed and launched a capacity building initiative focused on AI ethics and data governance for youth and students. Developed practical training modules on responsible AI use, data privacy, digital rights, bias awareness, and safe use of AI tools in learning and work environments. Delivering workshops and outreach sessions in partnership with youth and education institutions.