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Kenya's premier robotics & AI challenge
ROBOCONKENYA 2026
A national challenge for primary, secondary and university innovators building real solutions through robotics and artificial intelligence.
JKUAT, Juja, Kenya28–29 August 2026
9Challenge tracks
600+Students
47Counties
0Challenge tracks
0Days of competition
0Counties nationwide
Powered by
Arduino
Arduino creates open-source hardware and software tools, including development boards and the UNO family, that help learners and engineers prototype connected electronic systems.
Qualcomm
Qualcomm designs semiconductor and intelligent-computing platforms for wireless connectivity, edge AI and robotics, including Snapdragon and Dragonwing technologies.
Organised by
Kyrioslearn
Kyrioslearn delivers hands-on STEM, robotics and coding experiences that help young people turn ideas into practical, technology-powered solutions.
JKUAT
JKUAT is a Kenyan public university advancing education, research and innovation across engineering, agriculture, technology and entrepreneurship.
The missionBuild beyond
Build beyond
the blueprint.
Robocon Kenya is a national stage where curiosity becomes capability. Teams move from ideas to functional systems, learning how to design, collaborate, test and improve.
Powered by next-generation hardwareFrom circuit to
real-world impact.
real-world impact.
National reach
Open nationwide.
Schools and teams from all 47 counties can join the challenge.
Learning by doing
Prototype boldly.
Turn a problem into a buildable idea, test it and keep refining.
Two-day arena
Compete. Connect.
Present your solution, meet fellow builders and experience the energy of live innovation.
Future-ready skills
Think in systems.
Combine robotics, AI, teamwork, creative thinking and engineering discipline.
How it worksYour road
Your road
to the arena.
Five steps from idea to event day. Round 1 is free and open to everyone — the fee only applies to applications that make it through.
Round 1 — Apply
The general application. Tell us who you are, your institution and your project idea. Takes about 4 minutes.
FreeDeadline: 7th August 2026Review
The organising team reviews every Round 1 application. Outcomes are sent to the contact email on file.
We do this partRound 2 — Confirm
Approved applications submit full details and consents. This is the final registration stage — there is nothing to pay.
Compulsory briefing
Every registered team attends one online briefing before the event: Sunday 23 August 2026, 5:00–6:10 PM EAT (1 hour 10 minutes). Joining details are emailed to the contact on the registration.
Sun 23 Aug · 5PM EATEvent days
28–29 August 2026 at JKUAT, Juja. Bring your pass — only pass-holders are allowed into the event grounds.
Pass required◆600 slots total, first come, first served. Once slots are filled, remaining applications join the waitlist — apply early.
Who can participateThree levels.
Three levels.
One arena.
The challenge is structured to welcome growing innovators at different stages of their learning journey.
Primary
Early innovators discovering the power of building, teamwork and creative problem-solving.
→Secondary
Student teams ready to apply science, technology and coding to practical challenges.
→Tertiary
Advanced teams engineering ambitious robotics and AI solutions with real-world relevance. -TVETs, Universities, and Colleges
→Challenge tracksNine ways
Nine ways
to make an impact.
What you could winPrizes worth
Prizes worth
competing for.
Top cash prizes up to $500 · KES 60,000
Winners walk away with far more than a trophy - recognition, funding, hardware and real opportunities to keep building.
Recognition
- Trophies
- Medals
- Certificates
- Plaques
- Branded merchandise
- Media feature package
Cash & grants
- Cash prizes - up to $500 (KES 60,000)
- Innovation grants
- Prototype funding
- School robotics lab donation
- Competition entry sponsorship for future events
Hardware & kits
- Robotics kits
- Arduino boards
- Development boards
- Sensor kits
- Electronics components
Vouchers
- Electronics shop vouchers
- 3D printing vouchers (Fablab/iForge)
- PCB fabrication vouchers (JLCPCB)
Learning & growth
- Internship opportunities
- Mentorship slots
- Incubation slots
Access & opportunities
- Maker-space access passes
- Lab access passes
- Sponsor networking passes
- Innovation lab visit
- Tech company visit
- Project development support
Participating institutionsThe national
The national
builder network.
Twiga
University of Nairobi
Twiga
Dedan Kimathi University of Technology
Twiga
ECT
Twiga
JKUAT
Simba
Alliance High School
Simba
Mang'u High School
Simba
Kilemba High School
Simba
Green Garden Girls High School
Tausi
Playstreet School
Tausi
Nelion School
Tausi
Solomon School
Tausi
Lukenya School
Tausi
Precious Gems
Twiga
University of Nairobi
Twiga
Dedan Kimathi University of Technology
Twiga
ECT
Twiga
JKUAT
Simba
Alliance High School
Simba
Mang'u High School
Simba
Kilemba High School
Simba
Green Garden Girls High School
Tausi
Playstreet School
Tausi
Nelion School
Tausi
Solomon School
Tausi
Lukenya School
Tausi
Precious Gems
Institution missing? Confirm participation and the team will add your school to this list.
Register an institutionEvent commandThe launch
The launch
window.
Mark the date. Assemble your team. The national robotics arena opens at JKUAT, Juja.
00Days
00Hours
00Minutes
00Seconds
28–29 August 2026Two full days of competition and innovation
JKUAT, Juja, KenyaThe national arena for Robocon Kenya 2026
Robocon event system / online
Fees & entryEntry is free.
Entry is free.
The fee has been waived.
Applying is free, and so is Round 2. The KES 500 per-attendee registration fee has been waived for Robocon Kenya 2026 — nothing is payable at any stage.
KES 500FREEper attendee
- ✓Free for everyone — parents, hobbyists, student participants, teams and accompanying teachers alike.
- ✓Nothing is payable at application or at Round 2.
- ✓Your event pass is issued at no cost.
- ✕Lunch and refreshments are still not included.
- ✕We will never ask you to pay for entry. Ignore any message that does.
600slots total · first come, first served
Slots are allocated in the order completed registrations are received. When they're gone, they're gone — later applications join the waitlist.
Pass-only entry
Only people with valid event passes will be allowed into the event grounds. This is enforced without exception for everyone's security — especially the safety of the minors taking part.
The flagship platformOne board.
One board.
Two brains.
Robocon Kenya 2026 is built around the Arduino UNO Q. It puts a Linux-class Qualcomm processor and a real-time microcontroller on a single UNO-sized board - so a team can run computer vision and drive a motor from the same project, without stitching two systems together.
That matters here for a plain reason: the AI runs on the board. No cloud account, no data bundle, no dead Wi-Fi ruining a demo in front of the judges.
Quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 running full Debian Linux, on the board itself.
Handles deterministic motor, sensor and timing work while Linux runs alongside.
Shields, sensors and jumper wires your lab already owns still fit.
Run models locally - no internet dependency on competition day.
Python and C++ side by side, with ready-made building blocks.
Wireless out of the box; power and flash over one cable.
AttendanceConfirm your
Confirm your
check-in.
Already registered? Enter the registration code from your confirmation email to check your check-in status for event day.
Official programmeTwo days,
Two days,
one arena.
From opening panels to the closing awards - here is how the two competition days run.
Day 1Friday, 28 August 2026
9:00 AM
Arrival & gate clearingTeams check in and clear the gate.
9:30 AM
Gates closeFinal entry for the morning session.
9:30 AM
Opening & welcome remarksOfficial welcome to Robocon Kenya 2026.
10:00 – 10:30 AM
KeynoteOpening keynote address.
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Campus tourGuided walk around the JKUAT campus.
11:00 – 11:40 AM
Panel: careers in Engineering, AI & RoboticsIndustry and academia speakers share insights with participants.
12:00 – 1:30 PM
Competition roundsBasic Electronics, Trivia, LEGOs & ESP32 Assembly - in respective rooms.
1:30 – 2:00 PM
LunchBreak for participants, judges and guests.
2:00 – 2:30 PM
Final keynoteClosing address for the day.
2:30 PM
Project setupTeams begin preparing their projects for Saturday's judging.
3:30 PM
DepartureTeams depart for the day.
Day 2Saturday, 29 August 2026
9:00 AM
Arrival & gate clearingSame procedure as Day 1.
9:30 AM
Gates close & opening remarksWelcome back to the second day of competition.
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Quick briefingRun-through of the day's judging process.
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Panel: importance of robotics in KenyaA short panel discussion.
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Project judgingJudges review and score every team's project.
1:00 – 1:30 PM
LunchBreak for participants, judges and guests.
1:30 PM
Closing ceremonyClosing remarks, certificate collection, departure and the official launch of Robocon 2027.
Keynote speakersIdeas that move
Ideas that move
industries forward.
Meet the engineers and founders sharing their experience at Robocon Kenya 2026.
Official campaign posterOne challenge.
One challenge.
National impact.
Everything you need to share Robocon Kenya 2026 with your school, team and community.
✓Registration is now open for schools and independent teams.
✓Primary, secondary and university participation levels.
✓Nationwide entry across all 47 counties.
PartnersBuilding Kenya's innovation ecosystem together
Project idea bank compiled with SafariSTEM.
Registration now openYour idea.
Your idea.
Your robot.
Your arena.
Form a team, represent your school or institution, and take your place in Kenya's national robotics and AI challenge.
28–29 August 2026 · JKUAT, Juja, Kenya