NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya is once again sending its tech prodigies to battle it out on the global stage — this time, in Shenzhen, China.
Twelve of the country’s top ICT students jetted off this week to represent Kenya at the Huawei ICT Competition Global Final, set to run from May 20 to 24, 2025.
The team was flagged off on Thursday by Education CS Julius Migos and Ambassador Jane Makori, who heads Asia Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
The annual competition brings together over 160,000 students from 2,200 institutions across the globe, making it one of the largest and most competitive edtech events in the world.
The Kenyan delegation will compete in various categories— including networking, cloud computing, AI, and innovation — against the brightest tech talent from around the world.
CS Migos praised the program, calling it “a pathway to progress, inclusion, and opportunity,” and a critical tool for empowering young people in a digital-first economy.
The team heading to Shenzhen includes a mix of university and TVET students, with strong female representation, and is backed by four faculty members and a motivational coach.
The move not only underscores Kenya’s commitment to tech talent development, but also reinforces the country’s position on the global ICT map.
Huawei’s Deputy CEO in Kenya, Stephen Zang, highlighted the broader impact of the competition: “We’re proud of Kenya’s rising ICT talent and grateful for the government’s continued support,” he said.
Since the competition’s launch in Kenya, it has trained over 12,000 university students and 500 TVET learners, offering advanced skills in artificial intelligence, cloud solutions, and data communication. And clearly, it’s working — last year, Kenya walked away with two First Prizes and three Third Prizes.
This year’s trip is also happening alongside the Global ICT Accelerating Education Transformation Summit, where leaders from UNESCO, global policymakers, and education stakeholders will explore how digital tools are reshaping the classroom.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Eric Muriithi Karimi, a Computer Science student at Egerton University, was optimistic: “We’re ready, excited, and proud to represent Kenya — and we are confident we’ll bring back medals.”
