Students from the TUM Institute of Computing and Informatics (ICI) emerged among the top performers in the AI4EAC Innovation Challenge 2026, after securing the first position in Kenya and second overall position in East Africa in the recently concluded competition.
The top spot went to a student from Rwanda in the contest, which brought together over 50 universities, academies, and bootcamps from across the East African Community (EAC).
The event dubbed AI4EAC Innovation Final Challenge 2026, which was held on 28th and 29th March 2026 brought together institutions from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The main aim was to discuss ways of advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the region.
The delegates explored ways in which this region could benefit more from AI in terms of socio-economic development.
The event was organised by the TUM's artificial intelligence guru Dr Kevin Tole who doubles as the ICI director.
The AI4EAC Innovation Challenge is a flagship programme of the EAC AI Alliance, aimed at mobilizing young talent to develop practical, AI driven solutions to challenges affecting communities.
The programme is spearheaded by the East African Community Secretariat in partnership with the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) and the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), and implemented by the German Development Corporation (GIZ).
The initiative is further supported by UNESCO Campus Africa, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and a range of global technology partners, including Microsoft, IBM, LinkedIn, and Oracle.
Over the past four months, students drawn from participating universities, academies, and bootcamps across the EAC underwent intensive capacity-building through structured courses, webinars, and hands-on practice challenges.
The training focused on four key thematic areas: Agriculture, Health, Finance and Trade, and Education.
Beyond technical skills development, the programme also provided participants with valuable industry exposure, including access to internship opportunities, project experience, and professional networking platforms.
