Kenya Celebrates Historic Success at Huawei ICT Competition Global Finals
Kenya has celebrated a landmark achievement in global technology competitions after President William Ruto honoured the country’s winners of the 2025–2026 Huawei ICT Competition, following the nation’s first-ever Grand Prize victory at the international finals.
The recognition ceremony, held at State House in Nairobi, highlighted Kenya’s growing reputation as a hub for digital innovation and technology talent. President Ruto congratulated the students for placing Kenya among the world’s leading ICT ecosystems, noting that their success demonstrates the strength of the country’s investment in digital skills development.
The winning Cloud Track team secured the competition’s highest honour, the Grand Prize, during the global finals held in Shenzhen, China, in June. The team comprised Kevin Tuei of Tharaka University, Catherine Atieno of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Brian Ngugi Kamau of Mount Kenya University and Salem Kim Lumumba of Machakos University.
Kenya also achieved outstanding results in other categories. The country earned Second Prize in the Network Track, while an all-women Computing Track team from JKUAT made history by securing Second Prize and receiving the prestigious Women in Tech Award.
The achievements came during one of the largest editions of the Huawei ICT Competition, attracting more than 210,000 students globally. After national and regional qualification rounds, 131 teams from more than 40 countries and regions advanced to the finals, competing across cloud computing, networking, computing and artificial intelligence categories.
Speaking during the ceremony, President Ruto encouraged young innovators to continue creating technologies capable of solving local and global challenges.
“The future belongs to those who imagine, invent and build the technologies that the world has not yet conceived,” the President said.
The success reflects Kenya’s growing investment in digital infrastructure, innovation and ICT skills development, with government and industry partners continuing to expand opportunities for young technology professionals.
The Huawei ICT Competition forms part of Huawei’s global ICT Academy programme, which partners with universities and technical institutions to provide industry-aligned training, certifications and practical technology experience.
Kenya’s performance also highlighted increasing female participation in advanced technology disciplines, with JKUAT’s all-women Computing Track team earning international recognition through the Women in Tech Award.
The milestone reinforces Kenya’s position as an emerging technology hub and demonstrates the potential of young innovators to compete and succeed on the global stage.
