At Strathmore University’s School of Computing and Engineering Sciences, innovation is not just taught, it’s lived. Here, five determined Computer Science students, Nicole Owens, Joy Muthoni, Kyla Arunga, Rosemary Wakaba, and Sandra Nthenya have joined forces to create WasteSmart, a smart waste management system that’s turning heads globally. Recently named among 21 finalists in the Dell Technologies Graduation Project Competition, the project is more than just a technical marvel; it’s a powerful example of what can happen when purpose, passion, and people align.

Born from a shared frustration with how cities manage waste, the team imagined a smarter, more sustainable approach. WasteSmart integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to make waste collection more efficient, predictive, and cost-effective. With AI-driven image recognition to sort waste, sensors that monitor bin levels in real time, and smart route optimization through analytics, the system helps municipalities and private companies save money, reduce emissions, and promote responsible recycling.

Behind this innovation is a deeply committed team, each bringing their own spark:

~Nicole Owens, the Team Lead, is the kind of leader who lifts everyone around her. With a keen eye for edge computing and chatbot integration, she was the glue that held the vision together. Nicole is known for her calm, strategic thinking and her ability to keep the team focused and motivated, even on long nights spent debugging code or wrestling with real-time data models. “I’ve always wanted to build tech that actually helps people,” she says. “This project was a dream come true.”

~Joy Muthoni, the UI/UX Designer, has an artistic soul and a user-first mindset. With every screen and interaction, she made sure that WasteSmart felt intuitive, simple, and human. “Tech can be powerful, but only if people can use it easily,” she often says. Her designs gave WasteSmart its friendly face and effortless feel, balancing aesthetics with functionality.

~Kyla Arunga is the team’s API whisperer and data guru. With her sharp analytical mind, she connected the system’s parts, handled complex integrations, and made sense of mountains of data. Her work made the insights flow clearly and cleanly. Kyla’s quiet determination and love for web development and data analytics kept the team grounded in performance and purpose. “There’s beauty in clean code and clean data,” she smiles.

~Rosemary Wakaba, the team’s mobile development expert, brought WasteSmart to life on your phone. Using React Native, she ensured that the system works seamlessly across platforms. Her precision and commitment to quality made the app responsive, reliable, and user-friendly. “I love building tools people can carry with them,” she says. “Seeing our code in action was surreal.”

~Sandra Nthenya, the prototype and gaming enthusiast, turned ideas into tangible models that the team could test and refine. Her ability to quickly mock up concepts and simulate interactions helped the group visualize their progress. Sandra’s playful creativity and problem-solving mindset gave the project energy and movement. “I believe learning should be interactive, and so should innovation.

Despite not having a formal mentor during the competition, the team leaned into their strengths, supported each other, and committed to constant learning. They read case studies late into the night, experimented relentlessly, and celebrated small wins together.

“We didn’t always have the answers, but we always had each other,” Nicole reflects. “That made all the difference.”

Looking ahead, the team is determined to refine and scale WasteSmart beyond the classroom. They believe it can inspire a new culture of recycling among Kenyan youth, reduce urban litter, and empower local governments with data-driven decision-making.

To future innovators, the team has one resounding message:
“Don’t wait for perfect. Start where you are. The magic is in the process, and the best ideas come when you’re willing to learn, try, fail, and grow together.”

Article written by David Kimathi