Botathon #8 University of Embu

The Community of Practice successfully organized the 8th edition of the Botathon series at the University of Embu on February 28, 2025, providing students with hands-on experience in AI, particularly in Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). A total of 38 students participated in the event, with 35 male and 3 female attendees. The Community of Practice team, including Brian Omwenga, Nick Mumero, Conrad Kabuye, Aisha Nur, and Angela Kanyi, traveled to the university to facilitate the sessions. The event began with a welcome address by Dr. Victoria from the University of Embu, followed by Brian Omwenga’s introduction to the Community of Practice and its mission in AI innovation. Conrad Kabuye then guided students through the event registration process before Nick Mumero delivered a masterclass on RAG, covering LlamaIndex, ChromaDB, and AI models developed by the Community of Practice. After a lunch break, students engaged in an interactive hands-on session led by Aisha Nur, allowing them to apply their knowledge of RAG through practical exercises. Two groups presented their projects, demonstrating their understanding and application of the concepts learned, while additional groups were expected to submit their projects within the week. Conrad Kabuye concluded the event with closing remarks, encouraging students to continue exploring AI and utilizing the Community of Practice’s resources for further learning. The Botathon successfully achieved its objectives by providing students with practical AI skills, fostering innovation, and registering at least 25 participants into the Community of Practice while delivering a masterclass on Large Language Models (LLMs).