Inuka Tech Fellowship Completes First Cohort

The inaugural Inuka Tech Fellowship cohort has completed its programme, with organisers highlighting the need for more pathways for women entering Kenya’s technology sector.

The fellowship, run by KPC Foundation and Power Learn Project (PLP), brought together 30 fellows selected from more than 1,000 applicants. Women made up half of the cohort. The completion was marked on September 25, 2026, at PLP’s offices in the iHUB Jahazi Building in Nairobi during an event themed “Her Data, Her Future.” The gathering brought together fellows, women working in technology and representatives from organisations including KPC Foundation, NCBA, Safaricom, Loop, Spiro and Qhala.

The programme was designed to combine technical training with practical experience and industry exposure. Fellows received training in areas including Python, machine learning, dashboard development and data storytelling, alongside mentorship and real-world simulations.

Rachel Gathoni, KPC Foundation Manager, said participants needed to approach their careers with confidence while continuing to develop their skills.

“Women must occupy the spaces they enter at work with confidence.” Rachel Gathoni, Manager, KPC Foundation.

The fellowship’s organisers said the programme was structured to address the participation of women in technology by deliberately including them in the cohort rather than leaving gender representation to chance.

“We are passionate about tech and more so women in tech.” Mumbi Ndung’u, Co founder and Executive Director, Power Learn Project

The programme prepares fellows for roles such as Operational Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst and Predictive Analytics Engineer, with additional career opportunities supported through PLP’s Talent Hub.

At the completion event, fellows also took part in activities focused on career planning and mentorship. A My Path Canvas exercise enabled participants to map out potential career steps over the next five years, while structured mentorship sessions and a fireside discussion provided an opportunity to engage with women already working in the technology industry. For some participants, the practical elements of the fellowship provided a link between academic learning and workplace experience.

Chantelle, one of the fellows, said the programme helped turn classroom knowledge into practical experience through hackathons and assignments. Another fellow highlighted interactions with women already working in technology as an important part of the programme and said the experience had helped her consider the next stage of her career.

The Inuka Tech Fellowship operates under KPC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Kenya Pipeline Company PLC. Its first cohort has now completed the training, with the programme positioning technical skills, mentorship and industry exposure as key components of the transition from learning into technology careers.