In a classroom in Laikipia County, a vast grassland region in northern Kenya known for its wildlife, students are assembling wheels, motors, and sensors to build a robot. It's a rare sight in this sparsely populated rural area, where technology often seems distant.
At the helm of these workshops is 27-year-old Jeremiah Kithinji. The young teacher runs several robotics clubs in the region and mentors nearly 200 students. Through these activities, he offers them a window onto the world, far beyond the rural landscape that surrounds them.
“A robot functions a bit like a human being,” he explains. Like the human body, the robot perceives its environment through sensors and acts using motors. “In reality, it’s a human being guided by a computer that gives it instructions.”
Kenya has recently strengthened science and engineering education in its school curriculum. However, the development of robotics remains hampered by a lack of resources, particularly in rural areas. In Laikipia, these clubs exist thanks to the support of the American non-profit organization Science in a Suitcase , which helped train Jeremiah Kithinji and funded his students' participation in the World Robotics Olympiad in Singapore.
A defining experience for both the teacher and his students. It allowed him to become a judge at the competition and to put into practice the skills acquired over the years.
Beyond learning, Jeremiah Kithinji sees robotics as a tool to address certain challenges specific to Kenya. He envisions applications in rural hospitals, to assist surgeons or facilitate the administration of medication.
A vision that inspires her students, like 14-year-old Natalia Wangari. The teenager dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and sees robotics as a way to transform medicine. She imagines a future where precisely programmed robots could perform complex operations.
Today, the students are focused on their next goal: qualifying for the upcoming World Robotics Olympiad in Puerto Rico. This year's theme, " Robots Meet Culture ," is already sparking their creativity. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Kithinji hopes to attract more partners and supporters to expand these robotics clubs nationwide.
