Kenyan software developers win global recognition

Kenyan software developers have won global competitions in recent weeks, gaining international recognition.

This comes at a time when the country is building its profile as a Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) and information technology services hub.

Kenyan software developers hit international headlines after winning the Nokia Nokia Growth Economy Venture Challenge and a regional contest dubbed Apps4Africa.

Two week ago John Waibochi won Nokia’s Growth Economy Venture where he was awarded Sh80 million ($1 million) from mobile manufacturer Nokia for his software creation.

Last week, the three winners of the Apps4Africa competition got the attention of US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who congratulated them for creating applications that will solve regional issues in agriculture, health and governance.

“Your work to develop 21st century solutions to Africa’s challenges is a powerful example of what individuals can do to shape a dynamic, successful future,” Mrs Clinton said in a video message.

The Apps4Africa competition brought together local technology entrepreneurs to build tools that serve the needs of NGOs and the communities they serve.

Launched in July, in Nairobi, by US Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale, Apps4Africa generated more than 20 entries from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.

iCow, a voice-based mobile application that helps farmers track the estrus stages of their cows — the periodic state of sexual excitement in the female of most mammals — won the top prize in the competition.

The application, developed by Kenyan Charles Kithika, enables farmers to manage their cows’ breeding as well as monitor nutrition leading up to the calving day — helping farmers get the most out of their cows.

Mr Kithika receiving $5,000 and an Apple iPad.

The second prize went to a citizen-reporting tool that allows for real time information on corruption in government, while a mobile phone based savings tool dubbed Mamakiba developed by John Wesonga took third place.

Apps4Africa is the first in a series of regional competitions that the US State Department has pledged to support.

Information technology’s role in fostering social and economic development has become a critical issue for governments and international financial organisations such as the World Bank who are riding on competitions to spur innovations that can solve day to day problems in developing countries.

The World Bank Group has kicked off the “Apps for Development” competition, which challenges developers to create software applications, tools, data visualisation or “mash-ups”— whether web-based, mobile, through SMS, smart phone, desktop, or tablet.