The Internet of Things (IoT) Programme at @iLabAfrica, Strathmore University is a structured, hands-on training pathway that takes learners from the fundamentals of electronics all the way to building and demonstrating market-ready IoT prototypes.

Delivered across three progressive levels:

• IoT Foundations
• Applied IoT Engineering
• Full IoT Product Development

The programme is built around a learn-by-doing philosophy. Participants work with real development boards, real sensors, real communication protocols, and real design tools, culminating in a physical product prototype they have designed and built themselves.

All sessions are held as evening classes in a hybrid format (in-person at Strathmore University and online), making the programme accessible to university students, high school graduates, and working professionals alike.

The programme is delivered by iLabAfrica, Strathmore University’s Centre of Excellence in ICT Innovation and Research, with a strong track record of applied technology development across East Africa.

The Internet of Things is reshaping every sector of the global economy. In Kenya and across Africa, IoT technologies are already being deployed in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, smart buildings, healthcare, logistics, and environmental monitoring. Adoption is accelerating rapidly.

Yet a critical skills gap persists. Most technology education remains software-focused, leaving graduates without practical understanding of electronics, embedded systems, sensor integration, wireless communication protocols, and PCB development — the foundational skills required to actually build IoT hardware. Most available IoT training is also imported from contexts that do not reflect the African technology landscape.

The iLabAfrica IoT Programme was created to address this gap directly. It builds engineers and product developers who can design and deploy solutions that work in local environments, using globally recognised tools, protocols, and platforms — from WaziDev and Arduino to STMicroelectronics, LoRaWAN, MQTT, Node-RED, and custom PCB fabrication.

The demand is real. IoT applications are already active across Kenyan sectors including smart water management, fuel monitoring, predictive maintenance in industry, solar energy optimisation, and smart agriculture. Institutions, corporations, and government agencies are seeking skilled engineers who can build and maintain these systems.

Skills gained in this programme apply directly to:

• Smart Agriculture — Soil moisture monitoring, automated irrigation, crop health sensing, weather station deployment

• Water Management — Flow monitoring, leak detection, water quality tracking (pH, turbidity, contamination)

• Smart Energy — Solar radiation prediction, generator efficiency monitoring, smart metering, energy consumption analytics

• Industrial Automation & Predictive Maintenance — Vibration and temperature monitoring, pump failure prediction, production line optimisation

• Logistics & Fleet Management — GPS asset tracking, fuel theft detection, cold chain monitoring

• Healthcare — Remote patient monitoring, medical device prototyping
• Smart Cities & Buildings — Environmental sensors, air quality monitoring, smart lighting, utilities management

• Fraud Detection & Resource Accountability — Cross-utility monitoring for water, fuel, and energy in institutional settings

• Renewable Energy — Solar and wind output monitoring, grid optimisation

• Environmental Monitoring — Air quality, flood detection, conservation sensors

Level 1 → IoT Hobbyist / Junior Developer / STEM Enthusiast
Graduates understand electronics fundamentals, can connect and programme development boards, transmit sensor data over MQTT, and visualise it on Node-RED dashboards.

Level 2 → IoT Engineer / Embedded Systems Developer / PCB Prototyping Engineer
Graduates can configure LoRaWAN networks, programme STM32 microcontrollers, design custom PCB layouts, and build integrated IoT systems for real-world deployment.

Level 3 → IoT Product Developer / Startup Founder / Technical Consultant / R&D Engineer
Graduates can take an IoT product from concept to a complete, demo-ready prototype — including custom PCB, firmware, cloud connectivity, and 3D-printed enclosure — suitable for commercialisation or piloting.

Job titles graduates can pursue:
• IoT Solutions Engineer
• Embedded Systems Developer
• Hardware Prototyping Engineer
• PCB Design Engineer
• Automation Engineer
• Firmware Developer
• Industrial IoT Specialist
• Smart Systems Developer
• Product Development Engineer
• IoT Technical Consultant
• Research & Innovation Engineer
• Startup Founder / CTO

• Agriculture & Agribusiness
• Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
• Energy & Utilities (including renewable energy)
• Water & Sanitation
• Healthcare & MedTech
• Telecommunications
• Logistics & Transportation
• Construction & Smart Buildings
• Mining
• Financial Services & FinTech
• Government & Smart City Initiatives
• Research Institutions & Universities
• TVETs and Technical Training Institutes
• Environmental & Conservation Organisations

This programme is designed for:

• University students, particularly in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering,Mechatronics,BBIT, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, and IT
• High school graduates and STEM enthusiasts ready to start a technical career
• Working professionals transitioning into IoT, embedded systems, or hardware development
• Software developers looking to expand into hardware and connected devices
• Engineers and technicians seeking to formalise or expand their practical IoT skills
• Startup founders and entrepreneurs building technology-driven products
• Corporate technical teams working in IoT-adjacent industries
• Researchers and innovators in academic and development institutions

Level 1 has no prerequisites — it is genuinely open to anyone starting a career in IoT.

• Hybrid Learning Model — combining in-person sessions at iLabAfrica, Strathmore University (Nairobi) with online participation for remote learners
• Evening Classes — scheduled to accommodate both students and working professionals
• Hands-on laboratory sessions with real development boards, sensors, and tools
• Real-world project work and capstone demonstrations
• Industry use case integration throughout each level

Email: iot@strathmore.edu
Website: ilabafrica.strathmore.edu

Physical Address: iLabAfrica Centre, Strathmore University, Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka, Nairobi

WALTER OUMA AINEA OYUGI
IoT Manager & Innovation Lead — @iLabAfrica, Strathmore University

Walter Ouma is a Mechanical Engineer and Data Scientist with deep expertise in IoT systems development, embedded systems, predictive analytics, and industrial automation. He holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology and is currently pursuing an MSc in Data Science at Strathmore University, with a research focus on IoT-based predictive maintenance and resource optimisation.

He is the Founder and CTO of Southern Complex, a cross-utility intelligence platform monitoring water systems, fuel consumption, and vehicle fleet operations through precision IoT sensors and machine learning — deployed across educational and public sector organisations in Kenya.

At iLabAfrica, Walter leads R&D on IoT solutions for predictive maintenance, smart agriculture, energy monitoring, and industrial automation. His technical expertise spans LoRaWAN, STM32 embedded programming, MQTT, Node-RED, PCB design, 3D modelling, and cloud integration across AWS IoT Core, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure IoT Hub. He holds a Siemens PLC Professional Certificate in Industrial Automation and is a Graduate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK).