Written by Alice Njoki.
On August 9, 2025, lots of bright young students from all over Kenya gathered in Nairobi for the 8th Young Scientists Kenya Exhibition. Held at the Moi Educational Centre from August 5 to 9. The theme was “Using STEM to Build a Better Future,” which means students used Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math to find smart solutions for today’s problems.
More than 1,000 secondary school students brought 130 different projects to show their ideas. These projects covered many topics like biology, engineering, helping the environment, using clean energy, and technology. The students got to explain their work to experts, teachers, and even people who make rules. The goal was to encourage young people to be creative and use what they learn in real life.
The top prize went to two students from Nova Pioneer Boys High School in Eldoret: Kon Lual Ajok and Ian Mwadiloh. They created a project called Afronomy Chain. It’s a website that uses blockchain (a smart and safe way to track things online) to follow government money from the time it is collected until it is spent. This helps stop corruption because everyone can see where the money goes.
For winning first place, Kon and Ian received a four-year scholarship to study at Strathmore University, KES 100,000 in cash, new smartphones, and a free trip to Ireland. In Ireland, they will represent Kenya at a big science exhibition in 2026.
Young girls in stem
And it being their second attempt for their project Kon said, “We tried before in 2023 and came third. This time we worked harder and won. It shows that if you keep trying, you can succeed”
YSK has also continued to shine through its alumni, one shining example of how YSK inspires young leaders is Gheida Abdallah, who grew up in Malindi. After moving to boarding school, her mindset changed and her passion for STEM was ignited. In high school, she won the Young Scientists Kenya award in 2021, which inspired her to begin mentoring other young minds. She went on to found Girls I-Save Africa, an initiative empowering girls in STEM by mentoring more than 30 girls and advocating for inclusion in tech.
Her impact has stretched beyond Kenya. Recognised with the Pwani Women Award, Gheida expanded her efforts beyond Mombasa, spoke in China on innovation for social impact, and represented young girls in digital spaces. On International Women’s Day in Nairobi, she was awarded the Innovation for Social Change Award. From Wajir to Marsabit, Gheida continues to empower girls, driven by her dream to join the United Nations and advocate for girl-child education and global innovation. She strongly believes in using knowledge to transform lives.
That is not all, there is also Branice Kazira , A 2020 YSK alumna who developed an agricultural innovation and later co-founded Signverse, a tech company that uses AI to bridge communication gaps for the deaf community.
Other Amazing Projects
Angela Debra and Ferdinand Emmanuel from Barani Secondary School in Kilifi came second. They made a Smart Solar-Jiko Water Distiller that uses the sun’s energy to clean water, helping people in villages get safe drinking water.
Edward Wara Kitsao and Patience Elizabeth Ninah from Salvation Army Likoni High School for the Visually Impaired won a special award. They invented a wheelchair that powers itself, making it easier for people with disabilities to move around.
John Tanui, the cabinet Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, spoke at the prize ceremony. He told the students that solving big problems is the real meaning of innovation. “What you create can change the world,” he said. “You are helping build a strong and successful Kenya.”
Since starting in 2018, Young Scientists Kenya has reached over 250,000 students and helped more than 1,700 projects. Many students have earned scholarships, found mentors, and even traveled abroad to show off their work. This exhibition helps young people prepare for science and technology careers that can change their lives and the country.
At the end of the event, it was clear that Kenya’s future is bright. With hard work, curiosity, and creativity, these young scientists are ready to solve big problems and make the world a better place.