DRICE, DCAMD and Graduate School conduct Inaugural AI Research Clinic

University leadership led by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Laban Ayiro (center) join researchers and participants for a group photo at the Inaugural AI Research Clinic held at Nairobi campus.

 By Timothy Oiro 

[Nairobi: February 28, 2026] Faculty and postgraduate students turn out in large numbers for the inaugural Physical AI Research  Clinic conducted jointly by DRICE, DCAMD and the Graduate School at Daystar University Nairobi Campus. 

The Vice Chancellor Prof. Laban P. Ayiro gave the keynote address titled: AI and Research , Innovation, not Revolution. 

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor said "We are gathered here to build institutional research capacity through the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence; not as a shortcut to scholarship but as an accelerator of disciplined, ethical and high impact research". 

He added that the training was intended to equip faculty and postgraduate research with ethical and technical competent use of AI tools to accelerate reasoning, productivity and quality.  Prof. Ayiro urged  institutions not to misuse this tool but to embrace the new shift in order to standout. 

"Institutions that ignore this shift will lag behind. I call upon research institutions not to misuse this tool but to build research capacity through the responsible and intelligent use of Artificial intelligence," urged Prof. Ayiro.

Speaking at  the same training, the DVC Academic, Research and Student Affairs Prof. Samuel Muriithi noted that AI adoption rate in the global community has grown exponentially. He encouraged institutions of  higher learning to embrace the change. Prof. Muriithi concluded  by affirming Daystar University's commitment to supporting for both faculty and postgraduate students in Artificial intelligence. 

The Dean, School of Science, Engineering and Health Dr. Jane Kimathi welcomed everyone present and congratulated all stakeholders for making the event a success.

The Clinic was facilitated by  Dr. Japheth Mursi, Deputy Director, Directorate of Research, Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship (DRICE), and Mr. Daniel Njeru, faculty member in the School of Science Engineering and Health 

Dr. Mursi administered an interactive poll on AI usage and it's effectiveness in generating accurate information during research.

The workshop titled AI use in Academic Research, trained participants on how to formulate research questions, how to find papers at scale, how to extract data and how to create comparison tables, using an AI tool known as elicit.

Hands-on Lab 2 addressed  Notebook LM & AI Writing, documenting analyses, generating summaries, asking methodology questions, and data visualization tools.

Hands-on Lab 3 took participants through how to build one's AI research stack, mapping workflow, and identifying bottlenecks.

At the end, the Director of Research Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Carolyne Ayuya Muaka gave the vote of thanks, appreciating the Vice Chancellor and the DVC- ARSA for their concerted  efforts in ensuring the training was a success.