Between 18th and 19th November 2025, the Technical University of Kenya hosted an event dubbed, ‘Geo-Generalist Era: Where Spatial Meets Everything’. The students and staff were addressed by leading minds in the academia as well as the industry. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Maurice Amutabi, welcomed participants and thanked sponsors of the event. He noted that the University enjoys mutual collaborations and partnerships with various stakeholders. He underscored the University’s commitment in nurturing and supporting talents as well as academic programs.
He challenged students to come up with innovative ideas that would change the country and beyond. Prof. Amutabi urged students to interact with the rest of society and advised them not just to focus on learning GIS software alone.
Dr. Pamela Ochungo, Patron, Geospatial Sciences Students Association (GSSA)and the KUZA Clubs noted that it was an honour to celebrate GIS day at TU-K.
She noted that the event recognised the growing power of spatial thinking in the world.
“Our theme, ‘Geo-Generalist Era: Where Spatial Meets Everything,” reminds us that GIS is no longer limited to specialists. It is a language shaping decisions in every sector. Where spatial meets everything we live in a time where: Spatial meets agriculture — guiding precision farming and food security. Climate action — mapping risk, resilience, and adaptation, public health — tracking diseases and planning health service, finance and insurance — modelling risk and investment, culture and heritage — protecting the places and stories that define us”
“With location intelligence, we can plan resilient cities, support farmers and food systems, prepare for floods and droughts, map services for vulnerable families, protect cultural and natural heritage. GIS gives us the ability not only to observe Africa, but to reimagine Africa a challenge for you,” said Dr. Ochungo.
She urged students to map something that matters and could inform a decision, protect a life and change a community. This could be safe school routes, access to clinics or water, cultural sites at risk and areas vulnerable to climate impacts.
The keynote speakers included; Charles Kariuki, the Country Manager, Zipline Kenya. His presentation focused on the role of Zipline in promoting healthcare in Kenya and the world through autonomous Aerial Drone, in delivery of medicine, blood, semen for artificial fertilisation among other tasks.
Mr. Kariuki challenged students to be more creative and come up with solutions that could solve real world challenges. He also congratulated the graduating students and assured them that Zipline would be willing to open doors for them whenever opportunities arises.
Mr. Samuel Kimani, the CEO of GeoClim East Africa Ltd and former CEO ESRI East Afric’s presentation was titled ‘Geospatial Technologies in Digital Transformation & GeoAI.’ It featured how modern location-based technologies are powering digital transformation across industries and cities. Focusing on how tools such as GIS, remote sensing, drones, GNSS and spatial databases are being integrated with advanced AI models to automate mapping, improve decision-making and unlock new insights from big geospatial data.
GeoAI (Geospatial Artificial Intelligence) specifically combines machine learning, deep learning and spatial analytics to detect patterns, predict trends and solve complex real-world challenges from smart agriculture and climate monitoring to urban planning.
Mr. Patrick Wesonga, a geospatial specialist at Safaricom PLC, gave a presentation on network GIS and GIS in the telecommunications industry. He explained how GIS is used in mapping and decision making process at Safaricom.
Brian Amani, the CEO and co-founder of Antugrow did a technical presentation on providing farmers with credit card facilities using block chain technology, GIS and satellite data.
Other guests who featured included the president of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya, Mr. Eric Nyadimo, the Secretary of Land Surveyors Board (Ministry of Lands and Physical planning), Mr. Kipkemoi Roy, Managing Director and Founder Spatial Collective, Mr. Primoz Kovacic, Douglas Rono, from the World Research Institute, Kelvin Nyabuto, representative from the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) among others.
