Nairobi, Kenya | February 19, 2026 — When four young engineers and tech enthusiasts formed Team Wallstreet to compete in this week’s Red, White and Build tech hackathon, their ideas often clashed.
“We were almost fighting – we had very different ideologies,” said Shila Swanapole, a computer scientist on the team.
“But that’s what actually made us stronger.”
Swanapole, along with Lenny Kidavi, Rachael Ngochi, and Najoli Ugaro, developed a Smart Chamas concept that won the $1,000 USD top prize (Sh129,000) on Thursday.
The team’s system helps chama users build a credit score with every transaction and boosts efficiency and investment returns for the group.
Prize funding will support continued prototype development using leading U.S. AI, cloud, and digital technology platforms.
Team Wallstreet was one of 12 finalist teams competing in the U.S. Embassy-supported hackathon, held at American Corners in Nairobi, Nakuru, and Eldoret.
A panel of expert judges awarded $700 USD second place to Team Eldocare from Eldoret, featuring Fredrick Okwomboli, James Ngandu, Brian Cheruiyot, and Vanessa Hidaya.
Third place ($400 USD) went to Trust Guard Unit, with Kelvin Mulama, Vivian Wanjala, Ezekiel Mburu, and Michael Wambui.
Unlike typical competitions that reward technical complexity, the Red, White and Build Hackathon required innovations that could be implemented, sustained, and scaled in Kenya.
Teams used U.S. AI tools to tackle challenges across five sectors: agriculture and food security; health and wellbeing; finance and enterprise; education and skills; and infrastructure and energy.
Another finalist, Peter Chepkwony, developed Crop Pulse Africa, which empowers rural farmers to be credit-ready.
“Through developing Crop Pulse, we were exposed to advanced U.S.-based AI and cloud technologies that helped us build our solution and strengthen our professional skills, from software development to content creation,” he said.
“Beyond the hackathon, our focus is on scaling the innovation, securing intellectual property, and bringing it to market in Kenya and globally.”
Among competitors was MediBora, a maternal health platform that won the first round of the Stars of Innovation Challenge in Nairobi in January.
Team lead Washington Adiado said the hackathon pushed them to refine their AI-powered monitoring system.
“The mentors challenged us on everything; how would a rural health worker actually use this? What happens when there’s no internet? How do we make it affordable?” Adiado said.
“Those questions made our solution stronger.”
Ngochi, who led research and pitch preparation for the winning Team Wallstreet, said the hackathon offered valuable interaction with tech experts.
“Our project, Smart Chamas, recognizes that informal savings groups are the backbone of Kenya’s economy, contributing nearly 40 percent of GDP. Our innovation is offering credit scores and formal record keeping that allows these chamas to be accountable, efficient, and effective in everything that they do, and getting loans,” she said.
Carla Benini, acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, emphasized the broader impact of such competitions.
“AI tools are designed for efficiency, but they don’t replace the need for critical thinking and innovation, in fact, they make those skills even more valuable,” Benini said.
“This project is not just designed to teach young people how to use technology; they’re learning to think like innovators, to identify real problems, and to build solutions that work. Those are the skills that create jobs and can expand the already vibrant U.S.-Kenya trade relationship. There are no limits when you combine Kenyan talent with American innovation.”
The hackathon is part of the U.S. Embassy’s broader effort to strengthen U.S.–Kenya economic and technology partnerships by promoting American innovation, U.S. technology standards, and entrepreneurship through American Spaces across the country.
