Kenya’s growing reputation as a technology hub received another major boost after local students delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Huawei Global ICT Competition.
President William Ruto hosted the winning teams at State House, Nairobi, celebrating their remarkable achievements after competing against some of the world’s brightest technology students in Shenzhen, China.
The country’s biggest victory came when Kenya’s Cloud Track Team won the Grand Prize, the highest award in the competition. It is the first time Kenya has claimed the top prize since joining the global contest in 2019.
Kenya also celebrated more success as the Network Track Team earned Second Prize, while an all women Computing Team from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) secured Second Prize and received the prestigious Women in Tech Award.
President Ruto also recognized Mr. Franklin Mutisya, a lecturer at Machakos University, together with Denzel Nzinga of Multimedia University, Robert Wambua of Kenyatta University, and Joy Wairimu of the Co-operative University of Kenya for their outstanding contribution.
According to the President, the students demonstrated skills in networking, cloud computing, cyber security and wireless technologies that are critical to protecting Kenya’s digital infrastructure and supporting the country’s growing digital economy.
He said the achievement reflects years of investment in digital infrastructure, innovation and skills development. The government has expanded its Digital Superhighway Programme by rolling out an additional 37,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable, establishing hundreds of digital hubs, training more than 1.9 million Kenyans in digital skills, and supporting the creation of over 350,000 digital jobs.
The President also noted that government digitisation has accelerated significantly, with 25,000 public services now available digitally, compared to just 350 services in 2022.
The success of the Kenyan teams highlights the country’s growing strength in technology and innovation, proving that local talent can compete and excel on the global stage. As Kenya continues investing in digital infrastructure and education, achievements like these strengthen confidence that the country is building the workforce needed to power its digital future.
