An innovation led by Dr. Daniel Maitethia at Meru University of Science & Technology (MUST) has received national recognition for its potential to transform cancer diagnosis in Kenya. The project, an AI-powered telepathology microscope, was crowned champion at the inaugural Innovate254 Hackathon held in Homa Bay County between 9^th and 11^th of August 2025.

The solution combines a low-cost 3D-printed microscope with artificial intelligence to classify biopsies as malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). It is further supported by a cloud-based platform where digitized biopsy slides may be uploaded and remotely annotated by pathologists, enhancing accessibility and efficiency in diagnosis.

The innovation was spurred by the cancer burden in Meru County, found to be among the hotspots for cancer patients but which intends to bridge diagnostic gaps in all 47 Kenyan counties. Since January 2025, the project has been in development and testing, including a successful pilot at Meru Teaching & Referral Hospital, where pathologists and medical lab technologists commended it for saving significant amounts of diagnostic time.

The project was showcased at the hackathon by two postgraduate students, Ezekiel Otieno (MSc Physics) and Caroline Gakii (MSc Data Science), who were guided by Dr. Maitethia. They pitched the innovation and impressed the judges from Konza Technopolis, AfriLabs, Strathmore University, Safaricom, Huawei, and the Ministry of ICT.

It was also an honor to present the solution to Her Excellency Gladys Wanga, Governor of Homa Bay County, and also to Eng. John Tanui, PS, State Department of ICT and Digital Economy.

The team deeply valued the visionary leadership and guidance of Dr. Daniel Maitethia and the encouragement of Dr. Amos Chege during the hackathon.

This achievement not only reflects the power of student-mentor partnerships at MUST but also indicates the growing role of the university as a research, innovation, and outreach base for the community.