Samuel Kariuki is a PhD student in the department of Engineering Science, Gifu University, Japan. He received his Bachelor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya (May 2021) and his Master of Engineering, majoring in Intelligent Mechanical Engineering, from Gifu University, Japan (March 2024). He received a short-term research scholarship from JASSO for his 3-month research on robotics at Gifu University, ending in March 2020. His research interests include robotics, motion control, human–robot collaboration, and the application of artificial intelligence for problem solving.
Minoru Sasaki (Faculty of Engineering) received an honorary doctorate from the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT: Kenya) on April 26, 2019. Sasaki has been dedicated to the development of mechatronics engineering in Kenya and continued to offer Kenyan researchers an opportunity to conduct the latest research in the field of mechatronics and engineering. His long-term contribution to the country was recognized by DeKUT. The honorary doctorate has been awarded to many prominent figures in the past, including the 9th president of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, and the 3rd president of the Republic of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki. Sasaki is the first Japanese citizen that has had the honor of receiving the title. Gifu University's Faculty of Engineering signed an academic agreement with the School of Engineering, DeKUT in 2014. Stronger ties are expected between the two institutions with Sasaki's honorary doctorate from DeKUT.
