National Assembly Speaker Honours Kenyan Students for Global ICT Excellence

Kenya’s position as a rising force in global technology was powerfully affirmed this week as Moses Wetangula, Speaker of the National Assembly, led a recognition ceremony honouring 12 outstanding university students for their exceptional performance at the Huawei ICT Competition Global Final 2024–2025, held in Shenzhen, China from May 20–24, 2025.

Speaking at the event, which took place at Parliament Buildings and was jointly organised by Huawei, local universities, and government partners, the Speaker applauded the students for their stellar representation of Kenya on the international stage. He urged them to continue striving for excellence in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things, and to channel their skills into solutions that impact Kenya, Africa, and the global community.

“Life is a continuous journey, and success is a constantly moving target. I warmly applaud our brilliant students for their resounding victory at the Huawei ICT Competition Global Final. However, I also challenge them not to relent. Let this achievement be a stepping stone. Continue to push forward, and leverage emerging fields to create practical solutions for Kenya and the world,” said Hon. Wetangula while addressing the students.

Competing against some of the world’s most talented students, the Kenyan delegation earned four major international awards, highlighting the country’s growing strength in ICT education and innovation. The winners include:

• First Prize – Computing Track: A combined team from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Machakos University
• Second Prize – Network Track: Teams from Machakos University, JKUAT, and the University of Nairobi
• Second Prize – Cloud Track: A collaborative team from JKUAT and Moi University
• Third Prize – Innovation Track: Egerton University’s “Silicon Savannah” team, recognised for their Smart Air Quality Monitoring System, an innovative solution that enables real-time environmental health data collection for smarter cities and healthier communities

Mark Omaiko, a second-year Cloud Computing and Information Security student at Machakos University, reflected on the achievement:

“This win is not for us individually, but for Kenya and all Kenyans. We are proud to have put Kenya on the global map as an ICT powerhouse, and we encourage fellow students to register and join similar programs in the future. This has been more than a competition—it’s been the experience of a lifetime.”

The 2024–2025 Huawei ICT Competition also marked a significant step forward in gender inclusion within STEM fields. Kenya proudly fielded an all-girls team, which earned the prestigious Women in Technology Award. Rukia Mwari (Telecommunication Engineering) and Banzy Nyaga (Mathematics and Computer Science) from JKUAT, along with Beverlyne Ndombi and Ifrah Hussein, Electrical and Communication Engineering students from Moi University, represented the country in the global finals.

“Girls are increasingly embracing ICT career paths, and this year’s female finalists are a testament to that. These are the future leaders of our digital economy,” said Stephen Zhang, Deputy CEO, Huawei Kenya

Kenya’s participation in the competition is part of a broader national strategy to strengthen digital skills and bridge the gap between academia and industry. Since its local launch, the Huawei ICT Competition has attracted over 12,000 Kenyan applicants, with 50 students reaching the global finals. Many of the top performers have gone on to join the Huawei Management Trainee Program or other partner organisations.

In Kenya, this year’s edition saw participation from over 6,000 students across fifty partner universities and colleges, reflecting growing interest in ICT skills development nationwide.

The Huawei ICT Competition is open to students from institutions affiliated with the Huawei ICT Academy. Participants gain access to cutting-edge resources, hands-on labs, and mentorship from Huawei-certified instructors, building real-world skills in networking, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

In April 2025, Huawei deepened its commitment to Kenya by signing a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the State Department for TVET, aiming to establish 150 Huawei ICT Academies across the country. This initiative will train 1,000 students annually and support 150 instructors through a Train-the-Trainer model. The University of Nairobi was recently named one of Huawei’s three Excellent Global Talent Alliance Partners, further cementing Kenya’s reputation as a hub of digital innovation.

“This competition gives students a platform to shine in areas like AI, Cloud and Networking, and Kenyan students have consistently excelled on the global stage. Digital transformation is reshaping industries faster than ever, and the greatest challenge is the shortage of skilled ICT professionals. Through initiatives like this competition and our ICT Academy, we’re empowering the next generation of innovators and ensuring talent development keeps pace with rapid technological change,” commented Stephen Zhang, Deputy CEO, Huawei Kenya.

As Kenya continues to nurture its next generation of tech leaders, achievements like these underscore the country’s readiness to compete—and lead—on the global digital frontier.