Photo/courtesy.
The National Intelligence Research University (NIRU) has crowned Caroline Gakii, Daniel Maitethia, and Ezekiel Otieno of Meru University of Science and Technology as the overall winners of its 2025 National AI Hackathon.
The trio clinched the top prize for their project, “A Low-Cost AI-Powered Digital Microscope for Accessible Cancer and Malaria Diagnosis in Kenya,” earning Sh2 million during the final showcase and awards ceremony held in Nairobi.
Joshua Radula of Strathmore emerged as the first runner-up with his “Word 2 Sign” project, an AI-powered solution that translates spoken or written words into sign language to improve accessibility for the deaf community, taking home Sh750,000.
Kelvin Mulama secured third place with “Veritas AI, Autonomous Intelligence for Financial Fraud Detection and National Financial Integrity,” earning Sh500,000 for his solution focused on strengthening financial systems and combating fraud.
The hackathon drew over 5,600 registrations and generated more than 2,500 AI solution submissions from across the country, underscoring the growing depth of Kenya’s digital talent and innovation ecosystem.
Speaking during the award ceremony in Nairobi, NIRU Vice Chancellor Dr. James Kibon said the initiative is designed to move innovation beyond ideas into real-world application.
“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,” Dr Kibon said.
The programme, delivered in collaboration with partners across government, academia, and industry, guided selected innovators through a structured incubation process.
Participants received technical mentorship, product development support, ethical AI guidance, and commercialization insights, enabling their solutions to evolve from concept to deployment-ready products.
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Nordin Hajji, Chairman of the NIRU Board of Trustees and Director General of the National Intelligence Service, said the initiative is part of a broader national effort to strengthen Kenya’s technological self-reliance.
“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,” Nordin noted.
On his part, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen commended the innovators, noting that their work reflects 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.”
Innovations showcased during the hackathon spanned key sectors including security and intelligence, agriculture, cybersecurity, public service delivery, and digital infrastructure, highlighting the increasing role of Artificial Intelligence as a driver of national development.
“The winning solutions were recognized for their industry readiness and potential for real-world deployment across key sectors including security, intelligence, agriculture, public service delivery, cybersecurity, and digital transformation,” said Ali Hussein Kassim, the Chief Judge of the Hackathon.
