By Peace Muthoka.
Nairobi, Kenya – August 14, 2025 — Kenya has taken another bold step in building a tech workforce with the launch of the 10th Edition of the Huawei ICT Competition. The initiative, unveiled today by the State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in partnership with Huawei, aims to equip thousands of students with cutting-edge skills in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Networking, and other emerging technologies.
The competition, presented in collaboration with the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, is free and open to students nationwide. Organizers target a record 12,000 participants in the 2025/2026 edition double last year’s turnout with a strong focus on drawing more entrants from TVET institutions and underserved regions.
Principal Secretary for TVET, Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, hailed the initiative as a direct pathway to preparing young Kenyans for high-demand technology roles. “From training in our institutions to competing at national, regional, and global levels, our students are constantly skilling and upskilling. This is not just a competition it’s a journey that builds the future leaders of our digital economy,” she said.
In past years, the competition has been dominated by university students, but a new agreement between Huawei and the State Department for TVET will see 150 technical institutions annually adopt AI-focused training and participate fully in the contest. Centers of Excellence for AI are already being set up at institutions such as Nyeri National Polytechnic, Shamberere, and Kabete, where AI-powered systems will handle examinations and marking within a single day.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Dr. Moses Wetang’ula, urged students to view the contest as more than a chance to win prizes. “This is a transformative journey that opens doors, shapes futures, and prepares you to compete globally. Kenya’s future belongs to those who can innovate and adapt,” he said.
Since its Kenyan debut in 2018, the Huawei ICT Competition has trained over 12,000 students and connected many with global opportunities. Internationally, the program spans 85 countries, reaching nearly a million students and producing top-tier talent for the tech industry.
With online registration now open via https://bit.ly/SAR2025_2026 , Kenyan ICT students have the chance to join a network of innovators, sharpen their skills, and represent the country on the global stage proving that the next generation of technology leaders is already in the making.
