Four Kenyan women win GirlCode hackathon with a digital solution for public transport fares
Four young Kenyan women won the third edition of the GirlCode Kenya Hackathon after creating an AI-powered platform to improve fare collection and financial management in the public transport sector.
Mary Wangui, Linet Mugwanja, Aisha Barasa and Cynthia Chepkorir emerged as the overall winners of the two-day competition held at Konza Technopolis, where 44 young women were challenged to develop technology-based solutions to real-world problems.
Their winning innovation, Naulisako, is a digital fare collection platform designed to streamline public transport payments, automate reconciliation for vehicle owners, and generate reliable sales records to improve financial tracking and transparency.
“Winning the GirlCode Kenya Hackathon affirms that young women have an important role to play in shaping the future of technology. Naulisako was inspired by everyday challenges in the public transport sector, and we are proud to have developed a solution that can make payments more efficient, transparent, and accessible. We hope our journey encourages more young women to embrace technology and innovation as tools for solving real-world problems.” Said Linet Mugwanja on behalf of the winning team.
The Bots team finished as first runners-up with Biashara Bot, a platform designed to digitize and automate financial record-keeping for underserved and unbanked small businesses.
Korva took third place with Korva Creatives Economy, which helps digital creators consolidate revenue, engagement data and intellectual property monetization across multiple platforms.
The top three teams received laptops, tablets, Bluetooth speakers, headsets and inspirational books.
The hackathon was organised by Absa Bank Kenya and GirlCode, with the Technopolis Development Authority providing mentorship and technical support while hosting the event at Konza Technopolis.
Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO of GirlCode, said the competition was aimed at giving young women an opportunity to develop practical technology solutions while building their confidence and skills.
“Kenya has one of the most exciting innovation ecosystems on the continent, and we are proud to continue our partnership with Absa Bank Kenya for a third year while also welcoming Konza Technopolis as a venue partner. Together, we are creating spaces where young women can learn, build, and see themselves as part of Africa’s technology future.”
Moses Okundi, Absa Bank Kenya’s Chief Information Officer, said the initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to digital inclusion and youth empowerment.
“At Absa Bank Kenya, we believe digital skills and access to technology are powerful enablers of economic opportunity. Our partnership with GirlCode over the past three years demonstrates our commitment to creating pathways for more young women to participate, innovate, and lead in the digital economy.”
“This initiative aligns with our purpose of ‘Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together… one story at a time.’ Through programmes such as GirlCode, we are equipping young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to realize their potential and contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s growth and digital transformation,” he added.
Josephine Ndambuki, Chief Manager, Business Development and Innovation at the Technopolis Development Authority, said hosting the hackathon was part of efforts to give young women opportunities to develop technology skills and test solutions to practical challenges.
“Hosting the GirlCode Kenya Hackathon reflects our commitment to creating opportunities for young women to develop their skills, test their ideas, and build solutions to real-world challenges. We want to see more young women become innovators, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders shaping Africa’s digital future.”
Kenya was the sixth and final stop in the 2026 GirlCode Pan-African Hackathon Series, which also featured competitions in South Africa, Tanzania, Ghana, Botswana and Uganda.
The Pan-African winners are expected to be announced on October 12, 2026. The winning team will receive approximately KES 790,655, while the winning SME will receive incubation support to help scale its solution.
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