Kenya and China are strengthening ties in digital education and innovation as Kenya's Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Migos Ogamba, flagged off a team of 12 students and four lecturers who will represent the country at the 2025 Huawei ICT Competition Global Final in Shenzhen.

Scheduled for May 20 to 24, the event not only showcases Kenya's rising tech talent on the world stage but also underscores deepening collaboration between the two nations in advancing skills development, youth empowerment, and technology transfer through strategic partnerships.

The team, drawn from different universities and technical institutions across Kenya, will compete in four specialized tracks: Network, Cloud, Computing and Innovation. The Huawei ICT Competition is now in its ninth edition and is considered one of the most prestigious platforms for nurturing emerging talent in digital technologies.

"There is no doubt that technology is the cornerstone of modern economies," said Ogamba during the send-off ceremony held in Nairobi, according to a statement released by Kenya's Ministry of Education on Thursday.

"The competition has served as a vital platform for nurturing young minds, equipping them with cutting-edge skills, and creating opportunities for future innovators and leaders in the ICT sector."

The 12 Kenyan students will join competitors from over 70 countries worldwide in what has become one of the largest global ICT talent events, attracting over 160,000 students from more than 2,200 institutions globally.

Ogamba said that since the inception of this competition, more than 12,000 students from Kenyan universities have received training and certification in cutting-edge technologies such as data communications, cloud computing, AI, and networking, with many going on to achieve both national and international recognition.

The flag-off ceremony was also attended by Jane Makori, director general for Asia Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, reflecting the strategic partnership between Kenya and China in promoting education and digital inclusion.

Steven Zhang, deputy CEO of Huawei Kenya, noted that the initiative aligns closely with the government's digital transformation goals.

"The Global ICT Accelerating Education Transformation Summit will attract government leaders, UNESCO, policy makers and other experts to discuss the digital transformation for education at a global level," said Zhang. "This competition brings together top student talent from across the world to showcase their skills and innovations."

Zhang said that over 6,500 students have participated locally, stating that "we are honored to see Kenya's representation grow on the global stage".