Zetech University Clinches First Place at the 2026 IEEE Metaverse Grand Challenge

Zetech University has made history by clinching first place at the 2026 IEEE Metaverse Grand Challenge for Simulation-Based Learning, emerging first globally, first in Africa, and first in Kenya, as the only African university among the winning teams. The triumphant Team Medtriage, comprising Josephat Onkoba (MSc Information Technology), Grace Kamure (Computer Science), Samuel Kang'ethe, Memucan Kiprono, and Sophy Naliaka (Software Engineering), developed an immersive simulation designed to sharpen emergency decision-making in healthcare education. The team will proudly represent Kenya and the university in Cyprus from 22nd to 24th October 2026, carrying the nation's innovation to the international stage.

This remarkable victory was no overnight success. It is the product of a technology journey that began in 1997, when founder Ken Mbiuki started offering basic IT training from a University of Nairobi dorm room, at a time when computing was still a novelty in Kenya. That humble venture, known as Zenith Technologies, evolved into Zetech College in 1999, a name blending "Zenith" and "Technology," and it reflected the institution's technology-first identity from the very beginning.

The university's credentials speak for themselves. Zetech is fully chartered, accredited by the Commission for University Education, and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, a quality standard that few Kenyan institutions maintain. After receiving its Letter of Interim Authority in 2014, the university was formally awarded its charter by President Uhuru Kenyatta in August 2022, cementing its position among Kenya's recognized institutions of higher learning.

At the core of Zetech's IT strength lies the School of ICT, Media, and Engineering, one of five schools delivering programs from certificate level through to PhD. The university serves approximately 10,000 students supported by 400 staff, and its alumni community has grown to roughly 75,000 graduates, a powerful network of Techizens whose skills continue to power Kenya's technology landscape.

The infrastructure matches the ambition. Across its four campuses, namely Ruiru along Thika Road, Technology Park Mang'u, Nairobi City Campus, and the Zetech Digital School, the university provides fully equipped ICT laboratories, a professional media studio, and a 750-seat library running an automated Integrated Library System. Zetech is also Kenya's first university accredited as an open distance and e-learning center, a distinction that proved vital when it sustained uninterrupted online learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while many institutions faltered.

Innovation at Zetech is institutionalized rather than incidental. The university hosts dedicated centers, including the iZET Hub for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Technology; the Africa Centre for Data Analytics and Modelling; and the Agritech and Innovation Hub, giving students structured platforms to design, build, and showcase real-world solutions. The results are visible. Zetech was the only Kenyan university selected for the Pan African Robotics Challenge in Dakar, Senegal, and has been ranked among the country's top 20 universities.

Team Medtriage is the direct product of this vibrant ecosystem, and their groundbreaking work embodies the university's mission of using innovation and technology to transform society. Their journey to the global stage is powerful proof that with the right training, mentorship, and environment, Kenyan students can outshine the very best in the world.

Beyond academics, Zetech is deeply invested in student outcomes. Through its Office of Career Services, a robust alumni network, and the ZePreneurs program, which funds and mentors student-run businesses, graduates leave not merely with degrees, but with clear pathways into employment and entrepreneurship.

With over 25 years of nurturing market-ready graduates, Zetech University has earned its motto, Invent Your Future.