Limuru Girls’ Students Develop FASA: An Anti-Abduction Device .
Two high school learners from Limuru Girls, Sharonne Njoki (Form Three) and Michelle Ndolo (Form Two), have developed a technological solution aimed at curbing femicide-related abductions. Known as the Femicide Abduction System Alert (FASA), this innovation is grounded in behavioral science and aims to enhance women’s safety through real-time response mechanisms.
Their inspiration came from the tragic murder of a first-year student from Multimedia University whose body was found in a water tank. This incident, along with similar cases, motivated the duo to engineer a system focused on emergency alerts and location tracking to help victims in distress.
The FASA system integrates six key components: an ESP32 microcontroller, GSM module, GPS tracking unit, a microphone, a panic button, and a rechargeable battery. It is designed to be embedded in accessories such as handbags, enabling discreet but powerful protection.
When activated by either a scream or pressing the panic button, the system instantly sends an alert containing the message “help help, I am in distress” along with real-time location data to connected devices. During trials, the GPS tracking demonstrated a location accuracy with a margin of error averaging 11.4 meters. Beyond this range, scream detection becomes unreliable.
“We were inspired by the MMU case, where a female student was murdered and her body thrown into a tank. The incident, among many other cases of femicide, led us to invent the system which detects abductions and sends notification alerts for help,” Ndolo said..
To avoid unnecessary alerts due to ambient noise, the microphone can be manually turned off. The system does not restrict the number of devices it can connect to, allowing users to link it with multiple trusted contacts.
“If the victim screams or presses the panic button, the system automatically sends the message ‘help help, I am in distress’ to the connected device, to let them know that you need help,” Ndolo continued.
Community Engagement and Emergency Response
The system encourages digital bystander intervention by utilizing platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Through crowd-sourced awareness, it seeks to challenge the bystander effect and promote quicker action during emergencies.
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FASA also employs a connectivity model where emergency alerts are sent to pre-approved contacts who can respond swiftly or relay the information to authorities. This feature enhances the user’s security network beyond immediate proximity.
Presented at the 61st Kenya Science and Engineering Fair 2025, the project earned second place for its innovation and practicality. The students have priced the device at Ksh2,000, with an option for wholesale buyers to purchase it at a discounted rate of Ksh1,000.
They are now appealing to President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration to offer support for the invention, hoping for its broader integration into national safety strategies.
Limuru Girls’ Students Develop FASA: An Anti-Abduction Device .
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