NAIROBI, Kenya—As a child, Sylvia Jebet dreamed of becoming a teacher, fueled by her love for math and physics. But life had other plans, steering her toward telecommunications engineering and eventually placing her at the forefront of technology and innovation.
Now a developer relations associate and Women in Tech Lead for Africa at Africa’s Talking, Jebet is harnessing her tech expertise to address real-world challenges.
After completing Huawei’s prestigious Seeds for the Future program in China, she’s more inspired than ever to transform agriculture in her home county of Uasin Gishu.
Jebet’s passion for technology was sparked by the gadgets she encountered growing up, fueling her curiosity about how systems work.
Proud to be representing right where it all started @jkuat_ses 💪🏾. Thank you JKUAT for having us, the AT mini-summit was great. Another day well spent in lines of code 🎉 @Africastalking @ATCommunityNBO @ATWomenInTech #BuildWithAT #WeLoveNerds
In 2022, she graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) with a degree in Telecommunications and Information Engineering—a field where women were significantly underrepresented.
“Out of 60 students in our class, only 10 were women. By graduation, we were just 41 students,” Jebet noted.
Her drive for hands-on experience led her to the Huawei Seeds for the Future program, where she became the only woman among five Kenyan participants selected to join the Sub-Saharan Africa cohort.
The program, designed to equip tech talent with cutting-edge skills, took her to Beijing, China, for an immersive learning experience.
“We explored artificial intelligence, 5G technology, networking, and cloud systems. Seeing real-time applications of these technologies in a country so advanced was eye-opening,” she shared.
Jebet’s time in China didn’t just deepen her technical knowledge—it reshaped her vision for what technology can achieve.
With Kenya grappling with post-harvest losses and under-mechanized farming practices, she’s determined to bring innovative solutions back to Uasin Gishu.
“China showed me how effective mechanization can be. Vertical farming, hydroponics, and greenhouses with key monitoring tools like soil pH sensors and moisture content trackers can optimize crop production,” she explained.
Her goal is ambitious yet practical: to deploy end-to-end technological solutions that not only boost agricultural output but also address perennial challenges such as food waste and inefficiencies in the supply chain.
Being celebrated at global tech events like Mobile World Congress (MWC) underscores Jebet’s achievements as a woman in technology. But for her, it’s not just about personal success—it’s about inspiring others to embrace STEM and driving change in her community.
As digital natives with a passion for change, Gen Z has a unique opportunity to innovate in ways that directly impact society.
By addressing pressing issues through technology and collaboration, they are redefining what’s possible and paving the way for solutions that uplift and unite communities everywhere.
