As the country continues to grapple with growing security threats, two innovative university students have come up with a revolutionary solution aimed at transforming how institutions, government buildings, and private premises are secured.
Kelvin Mutungwa and Ian Cheruiyot, Zetech University students pursuing Computer Science, have developed an advanced security system dubbed Smart Gate, which leverages the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to replace outdated, easily manipulated manual security systems.
The security system seeks to restrict unauthorized access by people or vehicles to buildings or premises such that if an unauthorized person tries to gain access, the system not only denies entry but it also alerts the relevant personnel in real-time and records the attempt.
The system integrates facial recognition technology with smart sensors and a centralised control system in such a way that when a person approaches a secured entry point, the system scans their face, matches it against a database, and either grants or denies access based on pre-set parameters.
“Our goal is to create a security solution that is not only intelligent and efficient but also scalable and adaptable to various institutions. Security is no longer about padlocks and guards. It’s about real-time data, analytics, and automation,” said Kelvin Mutungwa in an interview during Zetech University’s 7th Annual Research and Innovation Week.
He added that the system has the ability to collect, process, and store critical data which can be used by security agencies for tracking suspicious activity, identifying suspects, or even analyzing traffic patterns in and out of a location.
According to Cheruiyot, a co-developer of the project, the innovation is still at the prototype stage and they are seeking to scale it up due to its huge potential.
He says funding challenges have limited further progress of the system, calling on the government, the private sector and other technology partners to chip to see their innovation become a huge security solution in the country.
“Building the system—from hardware to software—requires significant investment. We’ve developed a working prototype, but scaling it to meet national demand will need support,” Cheruiyot explained.
“With adequate support, we believe Smart Gate can contribute significantly to national security,” he added.
The innovation was one of the highlights of this year’s Research and Innovation Week at Zetech University, themed “Education for Sustainable Prosperity: Empowering Lives through Innovation,”.
Zetech University Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof Alice Njuguna, said if these innovations are supported, they can offer solutions to most of the security challenges the country is facing.
The DVC added that the institution has set aside Sh10 million to support young innovators to pursue their dreams adding that it might not be enough to support all the innovations that their students are coming up with.
“Currently, we have a budget of about Sh10 million to support our innovators. Our kitty keeps on growing depending on the demand,” said the DVC.
By Muoki Charles
