A Decade of Digital Skills in Kenya Culminates in Huawei ICT Contest’s Most Ambitious Edition Yet
What began as a modest student challenge now stands at the heart of a nationwide push to equip young people for a tech-driven economy.
Kenya’s technology scene has no shortage of bright minds. But turning raw talent into industry-ready expertise is another story. That’s where the Huawei ICT Competition Kenya has quietly become one of the country’s most influential talent pipelines.
This year marks its tenth anniversary — and the organisers are setting a record target: 12,000 students from universities and TVET institutions. It’s not just a number. It’s a bet that the next wave of Kenya’s digital creators is already here, waiting for the right spark.
More Than a Contest
The competition’s expansion comes on the back of a new Memorandum of Understanding between Huawei Kenya and the State Department for TVET. The deal will extend ICT training to 150 institutions, with a stronger focus on practical skills. In other words, less theory on a whiteboard, more experience solving real-world problems.
UNESCO has backed the programme as part of its Global Skill Academy, positioning it as a model for closing critical skills gaps. A newly created industry readiness group will go a step further — pairing students with employers so they graduate knowing not only how to code, but how to navigate the professional world.
From Nairobi to Shenzhen
Kenya’s track record in the competition speaks for itself. More than 40 students have reached the global finals in Shenzhen, China. Some walked away with trophies. Others walked into jobs at Huawei or with its partners. A few have even used the experience as a launchpad for their own startups.
This year’s contenders will start their training between August and October. The road ends in May 2026 at the global finals, but for most, the real prize is the mentorship and confidence they gain along the way.
A Decade In, the Stakes Are Higher
For its first decade, the Huawei ICT Competition Kenya proved the country could produce tech talent to rival the best. The next decade will test something bigger: can Kenya turn that talent into sustained leadership in the region’s digital economy?
If the energy in this year’s launch is anything to go by, the answer is less about possibility and more about inevitability.
Application for the Huawei ICT Competition can be done HERE
Go to TECHTRENDSKE.co.ke for more tech and business news from the African continent.
Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
TechTrends Media Podcasts
