Today's Headlines
- Lessons and Implications of the Confirmation of Charges Against Kenya's 'Ocampo Four'
- Finance Minister Quits Over ICC Charges
- Shortage of HIV Test Kits Raises Concerns
- Living On the Edge in Turkana Region
- Ali Breaks Silence, Describes Delight At Acquittal
- Uhuru, Ruto Eligible for Presidency - CIC
- Tea Sector Posts Record Earnings in 2011
- Resettle IDPs, Urges Annan
- Uhuru, Muthaura Have Done the Right Thing
- All Displaced People Should Return Home
- Concern Raised As Parents Shun Schools in Poll Violence Hotspots
- Ruling On IEBC Hiring in February
- Country Working Towards Conditions Needed for Direct Flights to U.S.
- How ICC Claimed Kibaki's Lieutenants
- Geothermal Project to Receive Sh10 Billion Funding Boost
- Five Million to Get IDs Before Elections
- Speed Up Building Port
- Uhuru and Muthaura Did Well to Quit Posts
- A Full Plate Awaits Githae
- Clashes Continue in Moyale
- Baraza Case to Be Heard Monday
- Two Firms in Joint Venture to Drill for Oil Near Lodwar
- Exit Uhuru, Muthaura
- ICC Charges Hound Uhuru Out of Treasury
- Consumers Grow Despite Inflation
- Poor Relations Between Banks Blamed for Cash Shortages
- Fish Prices Up As Vegetable Supply Dwindles
- Consumers to Pay More for Milk and Bread As Prices Rise
- Kibaki Tasks Ex-Dar CJ to Lead Probe in Kenya
- Mombasa Port Cargo Congestion Forces Three-Month Fees Waiver
John Gachiri
9 September 2010
Kenyan Robert Mburu is this year's winner of the GE Mentorship Experience after his prize, a mobile alarm system, scooped first position at last week's 2010 Maker Faire Africa symposium.
Mr Mburu's system works by using a mobile phone that links an alarm system to a camera and television.
It was inspired after he became a victim of crime.
"When my television got stolen, I was inspired to work towards finding home grown solutions to Africa's problems," said the winner.
His winning submission also uses readily found home-made gadgets which use independent power sources and solar energy which is more accessible to most Kenyans than electricity.
By winning the competition which attracts participants from the entire continent, Robert Muturi will have the chance to take his invention to the next level by working with the General Electric's (GE) chief scientist Asokan Thangavelu through a mentorship programme.
The GE Mentorship Experience is the main prize of the competition which is sponsored by General Electric, the second largest global conglomerate with research and development being the aim of the multinational.
The programme is meant to tap into local talent which can help find solutions for African problems according to GE's Commercial Director for East Africa Deo Onyango.
"On a day-to-day basis, GE strives to find solutions that contribute to addressing Africa's challenges. GE cannot achieve this alone and we encourage Africa's inventors to go back to their home countries and share the experience gained over the past two days with their counterparts".
In particular, GE is looking for energy efficient and profitable products to supporting African manufacturing.
Other innovative projects that were displayed at the two-day conference held at the University of Nairobi were water saving devices for agriculture to alternative energy designs from recycled projects and social media applications for mobile phones.
