Kenya has launched the 10th edition of the Huawei ICT Competition, a global skills initiative aimed at equipping young people with expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, networking, and other emerging technologies.
The 2025/2026 edition, unveiled in Nairobi in partnership with UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, targets a record 12,000 students, doubling last year’s participation.
The free online competition is open to all ICT students, with national winners advancing to regional and global stages.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, who officially opened the program, lauded the initiative for preparing youth for the future of work.
“As artificial intelligence and automation reshape the job market, I urge our young people to embrace AI skills so they can thrive in the economy of the future,” he said, pledging Parliament’s support in creating enabling policies for ICT growth.
Principal Secretary for TVET, Dr. Esther Muoria, underscored the role of public–private partnerships, noting that the competition has become “an important platform for identifying, nurturing, and showcasing top ICT talent from our TVET institutions.”
Now in its 10th year, the Huawei ICT Competition has empowered over 12,000 Kenyan students since 2018 and is expanding to underserved regions.
A recent MoU between Huawei and the State Department for TVET will grow training to 150 institutions annually. Organizers also celebrated record-breaking female participation, including award-winning all-girl teams in previous global finals.
“This competition is helping bridge the gender gap in tech,” Dr. Muoria affirmed. With 40% of jobs projected to be automated, the initiative aligns with Kenya’s new National AI Strategy (2025–2030), equipping youth with industry-ready skills and global exposure to thrive in the digital economy.