NIRU Crowns Winners of AI Hackathon 2025 as Kenya Strengthens Innovation Pipeline.

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Nairobi, April 1, 2026

The National Intelligence Research University (NIRU) has announced the winners of its 2025 National AI Hackathon, highlighting Kenya’s growing capacity to develop innovative, practical solutions to national challenges.

Caroline Gakii, Daniel Maitethia, and Ezekiel Otieno from Meru University of Science and Technology emerged as the overall winners, securing the KSh 2 million top prize. Their project, a low-cost AI-powered digital microscope, aims to improve access to cancer and malaria diagnosis, particularly in underserved areas.
Joshua Radula of Strathmore University was named first runner-up, earning KSh 750,000 for “Word 2 Sign,” an AI solution that translates spoken or written language into sign language to enhance communication for the deaf community. Kelvin Mulama took third place and KSh 500,000 for “Veritas AI,” a system designed to detect financial fraud and strengthen national financial integrity.

The hackathon attracted over 5,600 registrations and more than 2,500 submissions, reflecting the depth of Kenya’s digital talent. Participants were supported through a structured incubation programme offering mentorship, technical guidance, and commercialization support to help transform ideas into deployable solutions.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, NIRU Vice Chancellor Dr. James Kibon emphasized that the initiative goes beyond competition, serving as a pipeline for real-world AI applications addressing key national priorities such as security, agriculture, and public service delivery.

NIRU Board Chairman and National Intelligence Service Director General Nordin Hajji noted that nurturing local AI innovation is critical to strengthening Kenya’s technological independence, national security, and economic resilience.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also commended the participants, stating that the quality and diversity of solutions demonstrate Kenya’s potential to compete globally while creating jobs and driving economic growth.
The winning projects were selected through a rigorous evaluation process focusing on relevance, scalability, feasibility, originality, and impact. Innovations presented during the hackathon spanned sectors including cybersecurity, agriculture, intelligence, and digital infrastructure.

Beyond the competition, the hackathon serves as a vital bridge between emerging talent and industry, ensuring promising innovations are scaled into sustainable, real-world solutions that contribute to national development.