Man invents automatic hand-washing machine
Wangari Njuguna
They say necessity is the mother of invention and faced with the challenge of coronavirus, a youth in Murang’a has come up with a creative way to help curb the disease spread.
With the prices of sanitisers having shot up, most Kenyans have to contend with handwashing using soap and water.
However, hygiene is sometimes compromised during handwashing in public places hence why James Nyakera has come up with an automatic hand washing machine.
“I came up with the idea because in the market places we have water tanks with taps and tens of people are using the same tap.
For instance a person will clean their hands and touch the tap again while closing it which could beat the purpose of hand washing, ” he said.
Nyakera who has pursued a course in software programming said the automatic hand washing machine has an ultrasonic sensor which detects when one puts hands under the pipe, the microcontroller chip activates pump one which releases the liquid soap and pump two dispenses clean water.
Control box
He said it took him two weeks to come up with the programme codes for the control box to enable it to work effectively.
“The water runs for about 20 seconds which is enough time for one to have washed their hands thoroughly,” he said.
Nyakera said he believes this innovation would help curb the spread of the virus.
He has installed one machine at Kairo market in Mathioya and the residents have hailed his efforts.
He said he also had plans to make helmets which would help detect coronavirus victims by taking the body temperature but is unable to due to lack of the materials required.
“Most of the material I use for programing are imported and currently they are not available in the country,” he said.
