It began with a simple yet devastating truth. Life changes irreversibly when sight is lost. Suddenly, independence vanishes, mobility becomes perilous, and decades of skill and experience can be swept away in an instant. Yet from this place of pain and challenge, a spark was ignited. One that has now blossomed into ProVision, the winning innovation at the 2025 Strathmore Ideas Festival.

The brainchild of Victoria Mwaura, Arnold Oguda, and Furaha Makena, ProVision is a promise of restored freedom for the visually impaired.

“ProVision is an assistive technology that consists of a wearable and a mobile app. Together, they capture what is in the user’s environment and relay it back using audio. They tell the user how to navigate a room, read text, identify people, and even contact emergency numbers if they feel endangered,” explains Victoria, a fourth-year Computer Science Student.

The inspiration for ProVision came close to home. Two years ago, Victoria’s relative was diagnosed with advanced glaucoma, forcing her into a life of confinement despite being an active farmer. The experience was heartbreaking.

“It was honestly disappointing,” Victoria recalls. “She now felt like a burden, with nothing to contribute. Visiting the Kenya Society for the Blind, I heard the same story over and over. People had to abandon careers they had built for decades, all because they could no longer perceive light. I thought, this shouldn’t be the case. No one should have to give up their life simply because they can’t see.”

From that realization, Victoria joined forces with Arnold and Furaha, three innovators who all wear glasses themselves, to design a tool that restores dignity and independence to the visually impaired.

Team ProVision: (From Left) Arnold, Furaha and Victoria.

The journey was anything but easy. The team grappled with the challenge of making the device cost-friendly without piling on multiple expensive sensors. “Most devices for the visually impaired are prohibitively expensive and bulky, making them socially stigmatizing and impractical,” Victoria explains. “We narrowed our focus to the most urgent need, visual awareness and designed around that.”

For Arnold, a fourth-year Computer Science student, the journey was one of personal growth. “This was my first time pitting an innovation I was working on against others. It was different, but it gave me the confidence to keep going with more of my ideas.”

Furaha, a third-year Bachelor of Commerce student, adds that the process reshaped her self-perception. “I never thought I was an innovator before. But this experience showed me that innovation can emerge from any discipline. It taught us the true value of collaboration. None of this would have been possible without total synergy as a team.”

Winning the Strathmore Ideas Festival was a watershed moment. “It felt like a dream come true. I am grateful to God and my team for this victory,” Victoria reflects.

The win, however, is not an end but a beginning. The team is already thinking ahead. “In a single word, our next step is legal,” Furaha notes. “We need to secure intellectual property rights for our product and refine it based on user needs.” Partnerships are also on the horizon. “We seek to collaborate with NGOs and groups like the Kenya Society for the Blind, who already distribute assistive devices. Strong partnerships will be key to scaling our solution.”

At its heart, ProVision is about transforming daily life. Arnold paints the picture vividly. “Imagine combining ProVision with a walking cane. The headset would not only detect obstacles but also guide the user through multiple paths in a room, offering a complete sense of direction.”

For the team, motivation runs deep. “This innovation could change the lives of millions of people in a positive way,” Victoria says simply.

Furaha adds, “Disability is not inability. As someone with partial sight, I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose vision completely. That thought alone drives me to keep pushing this project forward.”

On his part, Arnold says, “I am not, and will never be, a quitter. It’s my responsibility to bring this to completion so that the hard of sight can experience life in a more holistic and simple way.”

ProVision’s potential is undeniable. What started as a painful personal encounter has grown into a powerful solution with the ability to restore confidence, independence, and dignity to countless individuals.

For Victoria, Arnold and Furaha, independence is a right, not a privilege, and through ingenuity, resilience, and collaboration, technology can make that right a reality.

Article written by Stephen Wakhu.