Nairobi: At least fifty-three teams from more than twenty-eight institutions of higher learning in the country are represented at this year’s National Hackathon symposium at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The scholars converged for a national inter-university hackathon aimed at developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to real-world challenges.
According to Kenya News Agency, the competition aligns with Kenya’s commitment to innovation, youth empowerment, and digital skills development under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). It brought together students working on solutions in education, health, agriculture, ICT, and business, sectors central to national economic growth. Prof. Waititu A. Gichuhi, Dean of the School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at JKUAT and chair of the hackathon steering committee, said the initiative has grown significantly since its inception. “We started the hackathon in 2019 with only one sponsor and it involved only JKUAT for about five years. After Covid-19, 14 universities joined. Last year we had 22, and this year the number has risen to 28,” he stated.
Prof. Gichuhi added that the hackathon prepares students for industry and positions young innovators for global opportunities. “We want to prepare young tech minds for the global stage,” he said. Kenya Airports Parking Services (KAPS) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Bonnyventure Ngala Saronge, the event’s founding sponsor, highlighted that the competition reflects the country’s expanding innovation ecosystem and supports the Government’s goal of creating a digitally skilled workforce. “We no longer say youth are the future; they are the future now,” he remarked. “With AI, the industry’s output will increase. Rewarding these innovators motivates them and shows that there is a future for them.”
Adapt IT Education Marketing Manager, Bridget Nkuna, whose organisation joined the hackathon as a sponsor for the first time, noted that hackathons are vital in nurturing student-led solutions and called for greater public-sector support for innovation. “Students have great ideas, and it is up to us as sponsors to ensure these ideas do not die. The government should invest more in innovations across sectors,” she said.
Philip Nyadida, a Maasai Mara University student, showcased Wazi AI, an innovation aimed at enhancing financial accountability in institutions. “Our project promotes transparency and reduces corruption. We thank JKUAT for this platform and hope the government and companies can support our work,” he expressed. The event is sponsored by KAPS Ltd, Oracle, Adapt IT, Microsoft, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), The Garage, Power Learn Project, and JKUAT.