Team Kenya Robotics has departed for Incheon, South Korea, where it will represent the country at the 2026 FIRST Global Challenge after securing a silver medal in last year’s competition.
The team was flagged off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo ahead of the global robotics contest scheduled for October 7 to 10.
This year’s competition, themed “Igniting Innovation,” will bring together high school students from more than 190 countries to compete and collaborate through robotics and technology.
The Kenyan team heads to South Korea after an impressive performance in Panama City in 2025, where it finished second overall and won the silver medal.
The result marked Team Kenya’s best performance since it began participating in the international robotics competition.
In Incheon, the young innovators will take part in a robotics challenge focused on wildfire prevention, mitigation and recovery.
FIRST Global says the students will design and program robots to operate in a simulated environment inspired by wildfire management, exploring how technology can help reduce the impact of fires and protect communities.
The competition will also give the Kenyan students an opportunity to interact with teams from different countries as they work on technology-based solutions to a global environmental challenge.
Kabogo said the team was carrying the hopes of a generation increasingly embracing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“These brilliant young Kenyans carry with them our national pride and the aspirations of a generation embracing science, technology, engineering and innovation,” Kabogo said during the flag-off.
He said the government remained committed to expanding opportunities in STEM and equipping young people with skills needed to compete in the global digital economy.
Team Kenya has been participating in FIRST Global competitions since 2017, using the international platform to showcase Kenyan talent in robotics and STEM.
The 2026 competition in South Korea will therefore provide another opportunity for the young innovators to build on their silver-medal performance and showcase Kenya’s growing interest in robotics and technology.
Kabogo wished the team success as it represents Kenya on the global stage.
“Go make Kenya proud,” he said.