Two Kenyan Students Feted in the US for Developing a Customized Computer Mouse for Disabled

Two Kenyan students have been recognized in the United States for their extraordinary achievement in the field of technology.

The two developed a shoe computer mouse customized for persons with hand disabilities. The mouse enables persons without fingers to use a computer and keyboard like any other people.

17-year-old Lipson Ochieng and Joshua Ouma, 18, are form three students at little known Obura Secondary School in Kisumu County. They said the motivation to develop the device dubbed “Kachapchap” was aroused after they visited a special school in the area.

“It all started last year in May when we visited Joyland Special School in Kisumu Central Constituency. We saw two pupils who had no hands completely left out while others used the government-distributed laptops,” says Ouma.

Last week, the two captured the hearts of many when they presented their creation in an innovation competition at the University of Delaware in the US. They were the only students from the African continent who made it to the top five in the overall score at the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs.

Ouma said they figured out how to connect a Bluetooth receiver in a computer and one installed in the shoe.

“An Information and Technology expert helped us to connect the two and that’s when our dream started to become true,” he says.

Each shoe costs Sh2,967 to develop. At the time, they rely on a local cobbler to make the shoes and have donated five shoes to Joyland Special School.

“We are calling upon well-wishers to help us so that we can produce the gadgets in large scale to reach many people,” says Ochieng.

Obura Secondary School Principal Mary Oruko,  who accompanied the two to the US, hailed his students for their performance during  the competition.

“We were encouraged by judges to improve on the technology and present it in the 2019 challenge,” said Ms Oruko.