Winners of NIRU AI Hackathon Bag KSh 2 Million Prize as Six-Month Competition Ends

The National Intelligence Research University (NIRU) has crowned Caroline Gakii, Daniel Maitethia, and Ezekiel Otieno of Meru University of Science and Technology as the overall winners of its 2025 National AI Hackathon competition.

The trio clinched the top prize for their project, “A Low-Cost AI-Powered Digital Microscope for Accessible Cancer and Malaria Diagnosis in Kenya,” earning Ksh 2 million during the final showcase and awards ceremony held in Nairobi.

Joshua Radula of Strathmore emerged as the first runner-up with his “Word 2 Sign” project, an AI-powered solution that translates spoken or written words into sign language to improve accessibility for the deaf community, taking home Ksh 750,000.

Top Innovators Recognised for Impactful AI Solutions

Kelvin Mulama secured third place with, “Veritas AI, Autonomous Intelligence for Financial Fraud Detection and National Financial Integrity,” earning Ksh 500,000 for his solution focused on strengthening financial systems and combating fraud.

The hackathon drew over 5,600 registrations and generated more than 2,500 AI solution submissions from across the country, underscoring the growing depth of Kenya’s digital talent and innovation ecosystem.

Speaking during the award ceremony in Nairobi, NIRU Vice Chancellor Dr. James Kibon said the initiative is designed to move innovation beyond ideas into real-world application.

“What we are building is not just a competition, but a pipeline of deployable AI solutions. The quality of innovations we have seen demonstrates Kenya’s capacity to develop technologies that directly address our national priorities, from security and agriculture to public service delivery.”

Also Read:NIRU Unveils Top 15 AI Hackathon 2025 Finalists

Building a Pipeline for Deployable AI Technologies

The programme, delivered in collaboration with partners across government, academia, and industry, guided selected innovators through a structured incubation process.

Participants received technical mentorship, product development support, ethical AI guidance, and commercialisation insights, enabling their solutions to evolve from concept to deployment-ready products.

Nordin Hajji, Chairman of the NIRU Board of Trustees and Director General of the National Intelligence Service, said the initiative is part of a broader national effort to strengthen Kenya’s technological self-reliance.

“By nurturing AI innovation locally, we are building the capacity to develop solutions that respond to our socio-economic realities while strengthening national security and economic resilience,” Hajji stated.

On his part, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen commended the innovators, noting that their work reflects the country’s growing leadership in digital transformation.

“The diversity and quality of solutions presented here demonstrate that Kenya has the talent and creativity to compete globally. These innovations have the potential not only to solve local challenges, but also to create jobs and drive economic growth,” Murkomen said.

Rigorous Selection and Sector-Wide Innovation

The winning solutions were selected through a rigorous evaluation process based on national relevance, scalability, technical feasibility, originality, and measurable impact.

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Innovations showcased during the hackathon spanned key sectors including security and intelligence, agriculture, cybersecurity, public service delivery, and digital infrastructure, highlighting the increasing role of Artificial Intelligence as a driver of national development.

“The winning solutions were recognised for their industry readiness and potential for real-world deployment across key sectors including security, intelligence, agriculture, public service delivery, cybersecurity, and digital transformation,” said Ali Hussein Kassim, the Chief Judge of the Hackathon.

Bridging Talent and Industry for Scalable Solutions

Beyond the competition, the hackathon is a critical bridge between digital talent and industry, ensuring that promising ideas are supported to scale into sustainable, real-world solutions.

The judging panel comprised of distinguished experts drawn from industry, academia, and the technology ecosystem, including Ali Hussein Kassim (Chair, FinTech Alliance Kenya), Juliana Rotich (Co-Founder, Ushahidi), Dr. John Olukuru (Head of Data Science and Analytics, Strathmore University, Business School), Joseph Mathenge (Technology and Digital Transformation Expert), Dr. Simon K. Nyambura (Academic and AI Researcher), Eng. Ruth Kirui (Engineering and ICT Specialist), and Oscar Otieno (Senior Deputy Data Commissioner, Office of the Data Protection Technology).

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