Five Kenyan universities scooped top awards at the recently concluded Huawei ICT Competition Global Final 2024-2025. The finale was held in Shenzhen, China, on May 24, 2025.
Teams comprising students from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Machakos University, University of Nairobi (UoN), Moi University, and Egerton University clinched three major global prizes in the competition’s Computing, Network, Cloud, and Innovation tracks.
Kenya’s Global Achievements
- First Prize – Computing Track awarded to a Team from JKUAT and Machakos University
- Second Prize – Network Track awarded to a combined team from Machakos University, JKUAT, and UoN
- Second Prize – Cloud Track clinched by a Joint team from JKUAT and Moi University
- Third Prize – Innovation Track awarded to a team from Egerton University for their Smart Air Quality Monitoring System
- Special Recognition – Women in Tech Award: All-girls team of Ifrah Hussein, Banzy Nyaga, and Beverlyne Ndombi
The impressive performance by Kenya’s university students reflects the growing digital capabilities of the country’s youth, nurtured through public-private partnerships and national investments in digital education.
“Thank you Huawei for the opportunity, and congratulations TEAM Kenya for the resounding victory,” said Fikirini Jackobs, Principal Secretary, State Department for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, Ministry of Youth Affairs. “More grace to you, comrades and friends.”
The Kenyan delegation included Ambassador Willy Bett, Huawei Kenya’s Khadija Mohammed, Education Attaché Albert Ombiro, and university representatives such as Philip Oyier, Wairimu Gichaiya (JKUAT), Patricia Gitonga (UoN), and Franklin Mutisya (Machakos University). The group supported the 12-member Kenyan team through the finals, which began on May 20.
Teams from other African countries, including Cameroon, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda, also took home several awards.
The Huawei ICT Competition started in 2015 and since then has engaged over 960,000 students from more than 2,000 institutions in 100+ countries. The 2024-2025 edition had over 210,000 students and 179 teams from 48 countries qualify for the finals.
The competition is part of Huawei’s Intelligent World 2030 vision that encourages students to master technologies like AI, cloud computing, and big data. It also promotes green innovation and digital inclusion.
Huawei ICT Academy in Kenya
In Kenya, Huawei has partnered with over 50 universities and colleges to deliver training in routing, switching, cloud, 5G, AI, and more. The Huawei ICT Academy has trained over 12,000 students and 320 lecturers, with more than 4,000 students trained annually.
“This initiative is building a skilled workforce ready for the digital economy,” said Khadija Mohammed, Media Director at Huawei Kenya.
Also Read: Huawei Hosts Cloud & Connect Summit 2025 in Nairobi
