President William Ruto has commended Kenyan university students, highlighting top performers from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), for their landmark victory at the 2026 Huawei Global ICT Competition held in Shenzhen, China.
Speaking during a celebratory reception at State House, Nairobi on Monday July 27, President Ruto praised the students for flying Kenya’s flag high on the global stage, stating that their success confirms Kenya’s rising status as an international digital talent powerhouse.
JKUAT’s Catherine Atieno, alongside peers from Tharaka, Mt. Kenya, and Machakos Universities, clinched the coveted Grand Prize in the Cloud Track; marking Kenya’s first-ever top prize since joining the contest.
JKUAT’s all-female Computing Team scored Second Prize globally and received the prestigious Women in Technology Award.
The Kenyan teams beat out fierce competition involving over 220,000 students from more than 2,000 universities across 100+ countries.
“What you have achieved in this Huawei competition has confirmed to us that we can compete anywhere with anybody,” President William Ruto said.
President Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting tech education through investments in the Digital Superhighway Programme, expanded fiber-optic infrastructure, and nationwide digital hubs to nurture local talent for the global digital economy.
“Competing against over 220,000 students worldwide was a challenging yet transformative journey. Winning the Grand Prize shows that with dedication, hands-on skills, and the right mentorship, Kenyan youth can solve complex global tech challenges and stand tall among the best in the world,” Catherine Atieno, JKUAT Champion & Grand Prize Winner.
Highlighting the institution’s commitment to nurturing globally competitive tech talent, JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi praised the team’s exceptional performance and urged them to continue the streak of excellence already consolidated.
“You have represented JKUAT and Kenya exceptionally at a global level. Remain disciplined, focused, and confident. The world will be watching, and you have a chance to demonstrate the strength of Kenyan innovation,” Prof. Ngumi said.
JKUAT lead trainer and mentor for the students, Wairimu Gichaiya lauded the impressive results by the various student teams, noting that the university has created an ecosystem to enable students thrive in the tech fields.
The JKUAT-Huawei ICT Academy has transformed technical training at the university, attracting over 100 students annually. It equips students with cutting-edge, industry-aligned skills through certified courses, modern labs, and hands-on projects in 5G, AI, big data, and cybersecurity.
This industry aligned approach has ensured that JKUAT graduates emerge not only knowledgeable but highly competent, with many securing internships and employment opportunities at Huawei and other leading tech firms.
