Kenya wins grand prize in global ICT competition in China / HANDOUTKenya has secured a major global technology milestone after four university students won the grand prize in the Cloud category at the 2025–2026 Huawei ICT Competition Global Finals held in Shenzhen, China.
The team’s victory came after months of rigorous competition that attracted more than 220,000 students from around the world, making it one of the largest and most competitive ICT talent contests globally.
This marks Kenya’s biggest achievement in the competition since its inception a decade ago and the first time the country has clinched the top award at the global finals.
The win is a strong signal of Kenya’s growing strength in digital innovation, cloud computing and emerging tech talent, reinforcing the country’s position as one of Africa’s leading ICT hubs.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi hailed the win as a proud moment for the country, describing it as a reflection of the talent and determination of Kenyan youth.
"A proud moment for Kenya. Team Kenya delivered an outstanding performance at the Huawei ICT Competition 2025–2026 Global Final in Shenzhen, China, securing the country's first-ever Grand Prize in the competition’s ten-year history," he said.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary singled out the Cloud category grand prize winners, Kevin Tuei, Catherine Atieno, Brian Ngugi Kamau and Salem Kim Lumumba, for their outstanding performance on the global stage.
Mudavadi also praised other Kenyan participants who excelled in different categories, including an all-female team Esther Wairimu, Joan Nkatha, Melane Minayo and Faith Mosonik who won the Women in Technology Award.
Another team comprising Denzel Nzinga, Robert Wambua and Joy Wairimu secured First Prize in the Network category.
He said the results underscore the growing strength of Kenya–China cooperation in technology, innovation and skills development.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula also congratulated the students, noting that ICT innovation presents a major opportunity for young people to drive economic growth.
He lauded the competition for exposing more than 200,000 participants globally to modern technologies, saying it helps build practical skills through peer learning and global exposure.
"ICT innovations are a great opportunity for the young generation to drive the country’s economy forward. I commend the Huawei Kenya for holding a global competition that saw over 200,000 participants interact with modern technologies, hence advancing their potential in embracing technology through peer learning," he said.
Wetang’ula encouraged young people to take advantage of ICT hubs in their constituencies to sharpen their skills and enhance employability.
The victory further cements Kenya’s reputation as a rising force in global technology innovation, highlighting the growing impact of African talent on the international ICT stage.
