NAIROBI – A Turkana University College (TUC) student showcased an artificial intelligence-powered healthcare innovation during the 17th Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) Annual Meeting and Conference, held from July 29 to 31, 2026, in Nairobi.
Dennis Gunjiri, a student innovator at the institution, presented MediBot, an AI-powered clinical triage and patient engagement assistant designed to improve healthcare delivery, particularly in remote and underserved communities. The project was presented to university leaders, government officials, researchers, development partners and other higher education stakeholders from across East Africa.
The conference, held under the theme “Powering the Future of Higher Education in East Africa through Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations,” focused on strengthening partnerships, advancing innovation and shaping the future of higher education in the region.
Among those who visited the Turkana University College exhibition stand were Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Higher Education, and Prof. Rose Nanyonga, Chairperson of the IUCEA Executive Committee. They were received by Turkana University College Principal Prof. George N. Chemining’wa and Deputy Principal for Research, Innovation and Linkages Prof. Peter A. Edome.
During the exhibition, Gunjiri demonstrated how MediBot uses artificial intelligence, natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) to provide real-time clinical triage, patient engagement and health guidance.
According to Turkana University College, MediBot is designed to improve access to healthcare services in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), particularly in Turkana County. By providing timely health information and clinical support, the system is expected to complement existing healthcare services and improve patient outcomes.
MediBot previously won first place in the Emerging Technologies and Innovation category during the inaugural Kisii University Research and Innovation Week in April 2026. The project was developed under the mentorship of Dr. Jeremiah Onunga Osida, Head of the Department of Renewable Energy and Technology, whose guidance has helped foster student-led innovation at the institution.
The conference also marked the launch of the IUCEA Strategy, the AI Network of Universities and the IUCEA Strategic Plan 2026–2031, initiatives aimed at promoting artificial intelligence, strengthening research collaboration and enhancing the global competitiveness of universities across East Africa.
Speaking during the conference, Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research in Kenya’s Ministry of Education, urged universities across East Africa to strengthen collaboration with industry and translate research into practical solutions.
“Our universities should become living laboratories where students work alongside industry to solve real problems,” she said.
She added that stronger links between knowledge and enterprise, research and revenue, and discovery and deployment would help universities drive innovation, entrepreneurship and industrial transformation across the region. Dennis Gunjiri’s participation highlighted the growing role of student-led innovation at Turkana University College. The presentation also demonstrated how student led research can contribute to improving healthcare services in Kenya and across the East African region.
