Kenya sends 12 ICT champs for global tech battle in China

‎Kenya has flagged off a team of 12 outstanding university students to represent the country at the Huawei ICT Competition Global Finals 2026 in Shenzhen, China, where they will compete against more than 2,000 students from across the world in one of the globe’s most prestigious technology competitions.

‎The students departed the country Saturday after receiving a send-off from Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who challenged them to fly Kenya’s flag high on the international stage.

‎The students were selected through the Huawei ICT Academy Programme after excelling in national and regional stages of the competition, earning the opportunity to compete among the world's top young technology talents.

‎Addressing the team during a flag-off ceremony held at his office, Mudavadi congratulated the students for their achievement, saying their selection was a reflection of hard work, commitment and talent.

‎“You are not there because of luck, but because of talent,” Mudavadi said.

‎He urged the students to seize the opportunity to showcase Kenya’s growing digital capabilities and innovation potential before a global audience.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi with Huawei CEO Gavin Gao, Deputy CEO James Sun Quan and Public Affairs and Communications Director Khadija Mohammed when they visited him at his office to update on the progress of the ICT Academy competition hosted by Huawei and the progress of the 12 Kenyan students going to the Global finals in China scheduled for June 2/HUAWEI 

‎The PCS also underscored the importance of partnerships between government, universities and the private sector in advancing Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.

‎He said collaboration remains critical in nurturing future-ready talent and positioning Kenya as a competitive player in the global digital economy.

‎The 12 students, drawn from various universities across the country, will compete in networking, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other emerging technology categories during the global finals.

‎Speaking during the ceremony, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Robert Kinyua challenged the students to think beyond employment and become creators of opportunities.

‎“Students must be ambitious by creating jobs for people in the future and helping narrow the job gap in Kenya,” he said.

‎Kinyua encouraged the students to leverage innovation, technology and entrepreneurship to address societal challenges and contribute to national development.

‎Huawei Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to supporting digital skills development in the country through partnerships with universities and government institutions.

‎The company said the Huawei ICT Academy and annual Huawei ICT Competition continue to provide young people with practical industry skills, international exposure and opportunities to engage with emerging technologies.

‎“Today, a team of 12 exceptional Kenyan students drawn from various universities departed for Shenzhen, China, to represent the nation at the Huawei ICT Competition Global Finals 2026,” Huawei Kenya said in a statement.

‎“Selected through merit, dedication and excellence, these young innovators will compete against more than 2,000 students from around the world, showcasing Kenya’s growing ICT talent, innovation and digital potential.”

‎Huawei added that it remains committed to nurturing the next generation of digital leaders through skills development, innovation and global exposure.

‎The Huawei ICT Competition has grown into a major international platform that allows students to test their technical knowledge, gain practical experience, exchange ideas with peers from different countries and showcase their capabilities on the global stage.

‎For Team Kenya, the competition presents an opportunity not only to compete for top honours but also to demonstrate the country's growing reputation as a hub for innovation, technology and digital talent.