The National Intelligence Research University (NIRU) has crowned three students from Meru University of Science and Technology as the overall winners of the 2025 National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hackathon, highlighting Kenya’s growing pipeline of digital innovators developing solutions aimed at addressing national challenges and driving economic growth.
Caroline Gakii, Daniel Maitethia and Ezekiel Otieno emerged top in the national competition after presenting their project titled “A Low-Cost AI-Powered Digital Microscope for Accessible Cancer and Malaria Diagnosis in Kenya”.
The trio was awarded the grand prize of Sh2 million during the final showcase and awards ceremony held in Nairobi.
The innovative project seeks to improve access to affordable diagnostic technology by leveraging artificial intelligence to detect diseases such as cancer and malaria, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
Organisers noted that the solution demonstrates the potential of locally developed technologies to strengthen Kenya’s healthcare system.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen lauded the young innovators for demonstrating the country’s growing leadership in digital transformation.
“The diversity and quality of solutions presented here demonstrate that Kenya has the talent and creativity to compete globally. These innovations have the potential not only to solve local challenges but also to create jobs and drive economic growth,” Murkomen said.
Chairman of the NIRU Board of Trustees and Director General of the National Intelligence Service, Nordin Hajji, said the hackathon forms part of a broader national strategy to strengthen Kenya’s technological independence.
“By nurturing AI innovation locally, we are building the capacity to develop solutions that respond to our socio-economic realities while strengthening national security and economic resilience,” Hajji stated.
Joshua Radula from Strathmore University secured the first runner-up position, earning Sh750,000 for his project dubbed “Word 2 Sign”. The AI-powered innovation translates spoken or written words into sign language, improving communication accessibility for the deaf community.
Kelvin Mulama took third place with “Veritas AI”, a solution designed to detect financial fraud and enhance national financial integrity using autonomous intelligence systems. His project received Sh500,000 in prize money.
The nationwide hackathon attracted more than 5,600 registrations and generated over 2,500 AI solution submissions, reflecting the expanding scale of Kenya’s digital innovation ecosystem and the growing interest among young technologists in applying artificial intelligence to solve societal challenges.
NIRU Vice Chancellor Dr. James Kibon said the initiative aims to transform innovative ideas into deployable technologies capable of addressing national priorities.
“What we are building is not just a competition but a pipeline of deployable AI solutions. The quality of innovations we have seen demonstrates Kenya’s capacity to develop technologies that directly address our national priorities, from security and agriculture to public service delivery,” said Kibon.
According to the organisers, the programme was implemented in partnership with stakeholders across government, academia and industry.
Selected innovators underwent a structured incubation programme that provided technical mentorship, product development support, ethical AI guidance and commercialisation training.
The incubation process enabled participants to refine their ideas into market-ready technologies capable of real-world deployment, strengthening the country’s digital innovation pipeline.
Organisers indicated that the winning projects were selected through a rigorous evaluation process that assessed national relevance, scalability, technical feasibility, originality and measurable impact.
The innovations showcased during the hackathon covered a wide range of sectors, including security and intelligence, agriculture, cybersecurity, public service delivery and digital infrastructure, demonstrating the increasing role of artificial intelligence as a driver of national development.
Chief Judge of the hackathon Ali Hussein Kassim, who also chairs the FinTech Alliance Kenya, said the winning solutions stood out for their readiness for practical deployment.
“The winning solutions were recognised for their industry readiness and potential for real-world deployment across key sectors, including security, intelligence, agriculture, public service delivery, cybersecurity and digital transformation,” Kassim noted.
He added that the initiative plays a critical role in bridging the gap between emerging digital talent and industry by ensuring promising ideas receive the support needed to scale into sustainable solutions.
The judging panel comprised experts drawn from academia, industry and the technology ecosystem, including Juliana Rotich, co-founder of Ushahidi; Dr. John Olukuru of the Strathmore University Business School; technology expert Joseph Mathenge; AI researcher Dr. Simon K. Nyambura; engineering specialist Eng. Ruth Kirui; and Oscar Otieno, Senior Deputy Data Commissioner at the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
Analysts say initiatives such as the NIRU AI Hackathon are increasingly positioning Kenya as a regional hub for digital innovation while nurturing home-grown solutions capable of addressing socio-economic challenges and strengthening the country’s technology-driven future.
By Nicholas Ochieng
