A group photo of participants and partners at the Amphitheatre, Daystar University Main Campus, during the DRICE-hosted Startup Kenya Media-Tech Innovation Challenge, March 23–25, 2027.

By Clement Akelo

[Main Campus: 27th March 2027] Student innovators and storytellers convened at Main Campus from March 23 to 25 for the Startup School Kenya Media-Tech Innovation Challenge, a dynamic event aimed at transforming how media is created, shared, and trusted in the digital age.

The challenge was organized by Directorate of Research, Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship (DRICE) led by the Director, Dr. Caroline Ayuya-Muaka, in partnership with the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), through its Startup School initiative, alongside the UK-Kenya Tech Hub and Anza Village.

More than just a campus event, the program challenged participants to rethink storytelling and address emerging issues in the media landscape.

The opening ceremony was officiated by the DVC-ARSA, Prof. Samuel Muriithi, and attended by DRICE Innovation lead Mr. John Nderitu-, Public Relations Officer Ms. Jean Murungi from the Corporate Affairs Department, and DRICE Administrator Mr. Philippe Tinega.

Prof. Muriithi observed that the Startup School Kenya Media-Tech Innovation Challenge, will give a platform for students, faculty, and industry to interact and develop innovative products that respond to market needs. He noted that the Startup School Kenya Media-Tech Innovation Challenge will provide practical learning, develop students' creative thinking, and transform students’ mindsets from mere researchers to thinking in terms of innovation and the commercialization of ideas and products developed.

He further urged the participants to develop products that will add value to themselves, the country and the world.

“You can be the next Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page or Sergey Brin.  You are the future. You must help shape that future. Please take charge,” said Prof. Muriithi.

Participants were tasked with developing innovative solutions across four key thematic areas: digital media platforms and content technologies, creative tools for storytelling and audience engagement, community-driven media solutions, and technologies addressing misinformation and ethical communication.

Teams worked intensively over the three days to design tools and platforms that not only enhance content creation and distribution but also empower communities and promote trustworthy information ecosystems.

Organizers noted that the solutions generated during the hackathon have the potential to extend beyond Kenya, with some innovations expected to contribute to addressing media challenges in the United Kingdom and other global contexts.

The Media-Tech Hackathon highlighted the growing role of young innovators in shaping the future of media and underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling misinformation and strengthening ethical communication in the digital era.