The Tech Interactive, Silicon Valley’s leading science and technology center, is scaling its globally renowned engineering design competition across Kenya with unprecedented momentum. The Tech Challenge Kenya 2025 will engage nearly 5,000 students from more than 1,000 schools—a remarkable leap from its initial 750 participants in 2023.
This year’s expansion includes two dynamic showcases in Kisumu and Nakuru, marking a major step forward in bringing hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education to young problem-solvers across the country.
“In an era of shrinking global aid, we remain committed to expanding opportunity where it’s needed most,” said Katrina Stevens, President and CEO of The Tech Interactive. “Innovation knows no borders—and every student deserves the chance to be a creator and a change-maker.”
The Tech Challenge has inspired youth since 1986 in Silicon Valley. Its Kenyan debut in 2023 sparked new excitement around community-driven innovation. Central to the program’s growth is its train-the-trainer model, which builds long-term capacity by empowering Kenyan educators through virtual professional development led by The Tech Interactive.
These trained teachers, in turn, mentor their peers—igniting a ripple effect of STEAM learning across schools and counties. To date, the initiative has strengthened over 19,000 educators and reached more than 568,000 students nationwide.
“Africa is emerging as the world’s next innovation powerhouse,” said Dr. Shikoh Gitau, CEO of Qhala and international board member of The Tech Interactive. “We are proud to support the brilliance of young African learners through this bold, hands-on model of education.”
2025 Challenge Theme: Drop & Dash
This year’s challenge focuses on a real-world humanitarian crisis. In drought-stricken Turkana County, emergency supplies are often air-dropped into remote areas—but don’t always land where they’re needed.
Students are tasked with designing battery-free devices that can survive a drop and accurately deliver aid to a target area.
Through months of creative testing and collaboration, teams will build and document their solutions, culminating in two high-energy public showcases
Showcase Schedule:
Kisumu
Saturday, July 5 – Divisions 1 & 2 (Grades 4–9)
Sunday, July 6 – Division 3 (Form 2–4)
See also
Nakuru
Saturday, July 12 – Divisions 1 & 2
Sunday, July 13 – Division 3
The final showcases will feature 800+ student teams, presenting their prototypes before panels of expert judges—ranging from engineers and educators to industry leaders. Partner organizations include:
Kenafric, SBM Bank, Gearbox, IX Data Centre, Tropical Heat, Lish AI Labs, Mastercard Foundation, Microsoft, Save the Children, Médecins Sans Frontières, Zipline, Qhala, Kabarak University, Loho Learning, and many more.
“This challenge is about more than engineering,” said Shital Patel, Director of Kenya Expansion. “It’s about building future-ready minds—engineers, entrepreneurs, and citizens who think critically, creatively, and compassionately.”
Join the Movement
To learn more about The Tech Challenge Kenya or how to bring this initiative to your school or community, visit:
🌐 www.thetech.org/kenya
🌐 The Tech Challenge Expansion Page