Kenya’s tech momentum took center stage on November 12, as three youth-led teams from the Siaya Hackathon were honoured at the Kenya Software & AI Summit held at Moi University Annex Campus in Eldoret. Their win marks another strong step in Kenya digital innovation, displaying how grassroots talent is helping shape the country’s digital future.
Grassroots Projects Fueling Kenya Digital Innovation
The Siaya Hackathon, held from October 13th to 15th at the Siaya Community Digital Hub, demonstrated how community-driven projects are fueling Kenya digital innovation and strengthening the country’s fast-growing digital economy.
A coordinated partnership made the hackathon possible: Konza Technopolis offered overall leadership through its Jitume Program, positioning the Siaya Digital Hub as a vibrant space for young innovators; the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy ensured the concepts supported national digital goals; while Huawei Kenya provided mentorship and the AppCube low-code platform, which simplified and accelerated prototype development.
Over the intensive 72-hour challenge, thirty-five young innovators many from Bondo Technical Training Institute and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology built practical tech solutions aimed at everyday challenges faced by MSMEs and SMEs.
Their projects tackled issues such as digital payments, poor inventory tools, and market access barriers. It was a clear, on-the-ground example of how Jitume digital hubs are fueling Kenya digital innovation, turning local skills into real-world products that uplift communities.
With guidance from technical teams at Konza Technopolis and experts from Huawei Kenya, participants crafted five strong prototypes aligned with local market needs and real business realities.
The top three winning teams were:
DigitalNest Team — Hesbon Otieno, David Tonje Wanambisi, Stephen Omondi, Derrick Omwanza, Lorrent Odhiambo, and Grace Oginga.
Their solution, AGRILINK BONDO, is a digital agriculture management and marketplace system connecting farmers, buyers, and financial institutions.
It enhances transparency, improves market access, and supports financial inclusion through easy record management and both online and offline functionality.
The Sentry Team — Blessed Kamungu, Michael Sule, Wycliff Opella, Faith Adhiambo, Dennis Chacha, Esther Lorah Adhiambo, and Jevan Otieno.
They created Dhibiti Stock, a tool that helps MSMEs manage inventory, sales, and daily operations. The platform uses smart analytics to support data-driven decisions and improves financial visibility, helping businesses access funding more easily.
Solutech Team — Dave Ochieng, Lewis Kinoti, Mathew Otieno, Winfresha Sarah, Rebeca Achieng, Oliver Ohana, and Dennis Naktare.
Their innovation, Kazi-hub, connects informal-sector job seekers to nearby work opportunities. It eases recruitment for small businesses, simplifies job searching for youth, and includes integrated skills training to support career growth.
Speaking at the summit, Konza Technopolis CEO John Paul Okwiri emphasized that national digital skilling efforts are meant “not just to create jobs, but to empower youth to generate global digital value.” He described the Jitume Digital Hubs as essential nodes in Kenya’s growing tech ecosystem.
Huawei Kenya ICT Academy Manager Michael Kamau added that the Siaya Hackathon showcased how Kenya digital innovation can thrive beyond major cities:
“Digital prosperity must be shared across the entire country. These winning teams are rising stars, and their achievements highlight the strength of our nationwide digital empowerment strategy.”
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