President William Ruto has said the Huawei ICT Academy programme has trained more than 15,000 students across 61 Kenyan universities and colleges.

Ruto spoke during the Huawei ICT Awards ceremony at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

The President also announced that Kenya had become the first country to open registration for the 11th Huawei ICT Competition.

“I am delighted that Kenya is the first country in the world to launch the registration for the 11th Huawei ICT Competition,” Ruto said.

He encouraged students in universities, technical colleges and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions to register.

“Since the launch of the Huawei ICT Academy programme, the company has worked with 61 institutions and trained more than 15,000 students,” he said.

Ruto celebrates Kenya’s Huawei competition victory

The ceremony recognised Kenyan students who participated in the 2025/26 Huawei ICT Competition Global Final in Shenzhen, China.

Kenya secured its first Grand Prize in the Cloud Track through a joint team drawn from Tharaka University, Machakos University, Mount Kenya University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

A Kenyan all-female team also received a Women in Technology Award.

The 10th competition attracted more than 220,000 students and lecturers from over 2,000 tertiary institutions in more than 100 countries and regions. A total of 177 teams from 49 countries reached the global final.

Ruto said Kenya’s performance demonstrated that local students could compete with their counterparts globally.

“What you have achieved in this Huawei competition has confirmed to us that we can compete anywhere with anybody,” he said.

Huawei describes its ICT Academy as a partnership with learning institutions that provides training, professional certification and practical digital skills.

Ruto repeats full university funding promise

Ruto also used the event to defend his plan to provide full funding for students admitted to universities and TVET institutions.

“We have amendments to the Higher Education Loans Board programme that will make it possible for every student placed in our TVETs and our universities to get full funding for their courses,” he said.

The President maintained that investment in education and skills development was necessary despite questions about the cost of the programme.

“If you think education is expensive, then try ignorance and you will know which one is more expensive,” he said.

The proposed changes will require amendments to the law governing HELB and a clear funding framework before implementation.