National Intelligence Research University AI Hackathon Winners Crowned as Kenya’s Innovation Drive Gains Momentum
Kenya has crowned winners of the 2025 National AI Hackathon, showcasing the country’s growing capacity to develop homegrown technology solutions addressing healthcare, security, and economic challenges. Top honours went to Caroline Gakii, Daniel Maitethia, and Ezekiel Otieno from Meru University of Science and Technology, who won KSh 2 million for developing a low-cost AI-powered digital microscope aimed at improving access to cancer and malaria diagnosis. Joshua Radula of Strathmore University finished second with a tool that translates speech and text into sign language, while Kelvin Mulama placed third with a system designed to detect financial fraud and strengthen financial integrity. The competition attracted over 5,600 registrations and more than 2,500 submissions, reflecting the rapid growth of Kenya’s innovation ecosystem. NIRU Vice Chancellor James Kibon said the initiative is focused on delivering practical impact. “What we are building is not just a competition, ...