A Kisii University student has developed a mobile app that connects students in the institution.
Richard Muthii, 20, is the brain behind ‘Pawazone’ which provides a social platform where students can share information and interact with the university administration.
The third year student, who is pursuing a degree in Software Engineering, says his aim of developing the app was to ease communication at the university.
“I wanted to provide a platform where the school administration can share information with students,” he says.
“I started teaching myself computer programing long before I joined campus. During the first semester, I was hired to do a dating site by a friend.”
He however did not complete the site owing to differences with the person who had hired him.
He abandoned the project and started working on a simple site that he hoped would help new students to know their ways around the university. The site was however not successful since no one used it.
At the beginning of October 2016, he conceived the Pawazone idea, which is increasingly becoming popular among students — there were 1,092 registered users on the app two weeks ago.
The app can be downloaded from Play Store. After downloading it, a student is required to create a new account using their emails and a password.
The app also requires a student to specify their faculties and the courses they are taking. There is a page where a user of the application can share, view, like and comment on posts.
A messaging service allows subscribers to send direct texts to one another. The app also provides an online noticeboard where important updates can be viewed and posted.
“I decided to use the knowledge I had acquired building the dating site to create a social site where comrades (students) could come together and interact,” he says.
He initially worked on a website but later changed it to a mobile app.
He was helped to develop the app by Robin Cheptilah, his course mate.
Kisii University vice-chancellor Prof John Akama lauds Mr Muthii for the application. He says Information Technology is part of the institutions’ degree programmes.
“In particular, we are promoting e-learning in the training of students,” says Prof Akama.
Josiah Juma, a fourth year Purchasing and Supplies Management student and a registered Pawazone user, says the platform helps him get updated on activities and events in the university.
He is also able to get updates from colleagues who share timely information from the university noticeboard.
Mr Muthii attended Gatwe Primary School and Kangaru High School. He joined Kisii University in 2015.
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