In 2019, our journey with geothermal energy began when we were introduced to Mr. John Mwiti, who opened our eyes to the vast prospects of geothermal energy. Soon after, we embarked on an expedition to Menengai, where we witnessed the diverse applications of geothermal energy—from electricity generation to its direct uses in greenhouses, fish farming, milk pasteurization, and grain drying. This experience sparked a new vision within us for the potential of geothermal energy to drive rural development.

Our next stop was the Eburu community, where we observed local residents creatively using geothermal steam to collect water. This practical and resourceful application of geothermal energy inspired us to explore how we could extend its use to even more essential areas. It was here that the seed for Geotto was planted, igniting a passion to build innovation teams and develop solutions for communities like Eburu. However, a significant challenge lay ahead: we lacked the resources and support needed to transform our ideas into reality.

The turning point came when we met Dr. Julius Gatune, a senior consultant and project lead at iTATU. Intrigued by our geothermal ideas, Dr. Gatune began mentoring us, which ultimately led to our appointment as iTATU ambassadors. This role opened doors for collaboration, mentorship, and growth. One of our earliest projects was the Nakuru Triple Helix Platform, a collaboration with stakeholders such as the Nakuru County Government, the Geothermal Development Company (GDC), Coelib, and others, focusing on geothermal and solar-powered vegetable drying to tackle post-harvest challenges. Though that project faced unforeseen setbacks, it laid a strong foundation for future innovations.

Our work with the Eburu community continued after iTATU’s launch, during which we spent days engaging with the locals, learning from them, and identifying opportunities to apply geothermal energy in new ways. During one of these visits, we met Mr. Lucas, a community member in Songoroi, who was using geothermal energy for incubation, cooking, and drying. Despite his resourcefulness, he lacked the technical expertise to fully optimize his systems. Recognizing the potential for collaboration, we proposed working together to integrate IoT and automation into his geothermal-powered systems.

With the support of iTATU, we organized multidisciplinary expeditions to Songoroi, where we began implementing these solutions. Through three tests, we successfully hatched eggs and brood chicks using geothermal energy. This milestone marked the beginning of Geotto—an innovative, IoT-based system designed to harness geothermal energy across various value chains, from incubation to drying, cooking, and heating.

Geotto was born from a desire to create a versatile hardware-software solution that could be adapted for multiple applications, all centered around geothermal energy. While the incubator became our pilot project, we envision Geotto playing a transformative role in many sectors, offering scalable and sustainable solutions that can empower rural communities.

In our quest for partners and support, iTATU has been instrumental in helping us showcase Geotto at conferences and events, including one organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment. Our innovation has also caught the attention of a global audience. We’ve had the opportunity to present Geotto at prestigious conferences such as the Micro Manufacturing Conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa, the Geothermal Association of Kenya, and the African International Conference on Clean Energy and Energy Storage at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where we were awarded Best Presenter.

One of our most significant achievements was being selected for the BeVisioneers Fellowship, a program by Mercedes-Benz supporting innovators with planet-positive solutions. This fellowship has provided us with valuable mentorship and further validated the impact that Geotto can have on transforming rural economies. We were honored to attend the regional summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where we connected with engineers passionate about sustainability and carbon-zero initiatives.

With new partnerships on the horizon, our vision for Geotto continues to grow. We remain focused on building a geothermal ecosystem that powers multiple sectors—from incubation to cooking, drying, and heating—offering sustainable solutions to rural communities like Eburu. Our mission remains clear: to harness the power of geothermal energy for sustainable development, creating a future where innovation and community empowerment go hand in hand. Together with our partners and the communities we serve, we are committed to shaping a greener, more sustainable future for all.