Skip to Content

Conference Programme

A comprehensive four-day schedule featuring innovation showcases, keynotes, technical sessions, and capacity-building workshops.

Innovation Festival

One-Day AI Innovation Festival Prototype Exhibition, Judging & Networking Gala.

08:00 - 09:15

Registration & Exhibition Set-Up
  • Exhibitor Set-Up & Accreditation: Exhibition floor opens to delegates.
  • Hype Activities: Interactive robot displays (Afrizo & AfriBot), live music, and band performances.
  • Formalities: Devotion, prayers, and national/university anthems.

09:15 - 10:20

Opening Formalities & Chief Guest Address
  • Innovation Festival Opening: Formalization by Prof. Egara Kabaji.
  • Opening Address: Daystar University and the AI Innovation Ecosystem in Africa by Prof. Samuel Muriithi (DVC Academic).
  • Chief Guest Address: Exploring the role of innovation in national development.

10:45 - 13:00

Prototype Exhibition & Technical Workshops
  • Open-Floor Exhibition: Delegates interact and test 20+ deployable AI prototypes across thematic booths (Health, Education, Agriculture, Finance, Culture).
  • Live Judging: A panel of 5 expert judges assess prototypes against a strict rubric (Impact, Deployability, Innovation, Scalability).
  • 12:00 - 13:00 Technical Workshop: Deep dive into Ishara AI and Mistral AI models with external stakeholders.

13:45 - 15:10

Rapid-Fire Pitches & Finalists Announcement
  • Prototype Pitches: All 20+ exhibitors deliver a 3-minute rapid-fire pitch followed by a 2-minute Q&A. Audience voting counts for 20% of the final score.
  • 15:00 Announcement: The Top 5 Finalists are revealed to the delegates and briefed for the Day 2 Main Conference Finals.

15:10 - 16:25

Innovation Leaders' Roundtable & Closing
  • Roundtable Discussion: "Scaling Deployable AI in Africa - From Lab to Market" featuring directors from Safaricom, State Department of Technology, and top TTO Managers.
  • 16:25 Onwards: Networking Gala and tea break for all delegates and exhibitors.

Opening, Foundations & Innovation

Official launch of the DU-BRAINS 2026 main conference featuring policy keynotes and foundational panels.

08:50 - 10:10

Official Opening Ceremony & Keynotes
  • 08:50 Setting the Tone: Responsible AI for Inclusive Networked Societies by Prof. Egara Kabaji.
  • 09:00 VC's Address: Daystar as a Thought Leader in Responsible AI by Prof. Laban P. Ayiro.
  • 09:30 Keynote: When the Dead Can Speak: Griefbots and the Limits of AI Presence by Prof. James Katz.
  • 09:50 Keynote: From Policy to Practice: Building Kenya's AI-Ready Innovation Ecosystem by Dr. Tonny K. Omwansa.

10:10 - 11:20

Chief Guest Address & Special Launches
  • 10:10 Chief Guest Address: Positioning Kenya at the Frontier: Science, Research and AI in National Development by Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak.
  • 10:40 Launch: Journal of Responsible AI and Digital Futures Launch and Legacy pledge.
  • 11:00 IGNITE Innovations: Student Led Innovations for an AI Ready Africa.

11:40 - 13:00

CEOs & Leaders Roundtable
  • Roundtable: Scaling Responsible AI in Africa. Moderated by Ms. Nyatichi Nyasani, featuring Prof. Laban P. Ayiro, Prof. Dickson Andala, Dr. Tonny Omwansa, and Prof. James Katz.

14:05 - 16:00

Afternoon Keynote & Paper Presentations
  • 14:05 Keynote 4: AI for Sustainable Development by Ms. Mwende Mukwanyaga.
  • 14:25 Paper Presentations: Single track chaired by Prof. Martha Kiarie.

Research, Inclusion & Society

Deep dives into creativity, sustainability, ethics, and parallel academic paper sessions across 6 rooms.

08:35 - 09:15

Morning Keynotes
  • 08:35 Framing: AI for Research, Inclusion and Society by Prof. Edward Owino.
  • 08:45 Keynote: Inclusion & Equity in AI by Mr. Stanley Mutuma.
  • 08:55 Keynote: Ethics & Governance in African AI by Rev. Dr. Crispus Kinyanjui.
  • 09:05 Keynote: AI, Faith & Ethics / Disability by Dr. Reuben Kigame.

09:15 - 15:45

Parallel Paper Sessions (Across 6 Rooms)
  • 09:15 - 11:00 Theme 1: Foundations: Ethics, Rights & Human-Centred AI (Chair: Dr. Jared Menecha).
  • 11:30 - 13:00 Theme 2: Applied AI: Health, Modelling & Innovation (Chair: Prof. Shem Otoi).
  • 14:00 - 15:45 Theme 3: Governance, Culture & the Future of AI in Society (Chair: Prof. Dr. Dr. Moni Wekesa).

Governance, Security & Closing

Hands-on masterclasses, strategic synthesis, and the official conference conclusion.

08:35 - 10:30

Contextualization & Masterclasses
  • 08:35 Opening: Contextualizing Governance and Security in the Era of AI by Prof. Kivutha Kibwana.
  • 08:45 Workshops: Parallel Technical Workshops and Masterclasses (e.g., Community & Citizen-AI Session, AI in Research Masterclass, Prompt Engineering Masterclass).

11:00 - 12:00

Closing Ceremony
  • 11:00 Synthesis: Synthesis and Reflections by Prof. Egara Kabaji.
  • 11:15 Address: Institutional Sustainability in the Era of AI by Prof. Muturi Wachira.
  • 11:35 Closing Charge: Final address by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Laban P. Ayiro.
  • 12:00 Networking Lunch: Official conclusion of DU-BRAINS 2026.
DU-BRAINS Logo

Building responsible Artificial Intelligence for Inclusive Networked Societies (BRAINS) Conference 2026.

Navigation
Get in Touch

© 2026 DU-BRAINS AI Conference · Daystar University