When the results were announced at the Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) Nationals in Nairobi, a hush fell over the crowd before it broke into cheers.
Against all odds, Kaimosi Girls’ High School had taken first place in the engineering category, beating some of the country’s most established schools.
At the heart of the win were two determined students, Valary Lumadi and Gracious Kagucia, who stood proudly before judges and dignitaries at Moi Education Centre in Lang’ata.
Their project was no ordinary school experiment. It was a cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence system designed to help police identify missing persons, a tool that could save lives and transform investigations.
“We wanted to solve a real problem,” says their trainer, Mr. Godfrey Kimakwa, his voice still carrying the excitement of the win.
“Missing persons cases affect families across Kenya. We saw a way to help and decided to build it.”
The journey, however, was far from easy. The project required resources that the school could barely afford.
Components, software tools, and data training costs quickly added up. “Financially, it was a huge challenge,” admits Mr. Kimakwa. “But the girls never lost their focus. They kept pushing, learning, and improving.”
Their dedication paid off. Not only did they impress the panel of judges, but they also caught the attention of the Permanent Secretary for ICT, Eng. John Tanui, who promised to personally follow up and help bring their innovation to completion.
For Principal Rose Shavisha, the moment was deeply personal.
“In every step they took, I stood with them as a principal and as a mother,” she says with pride.
“Seeing them win at a national level has raised the profile of our school and inspired so many others.”
The victory brought home a cash prize of KSh 10,000 and, more importantly, the belief that brilliance can thrive anywhere, even in a small school far from the capital.
The two girls still have two more years before graduation, and Mr. Kimakwa is already thinking ahead.
“This is just the beginning,” he says with a smile. “We’re going to do even bigger things.”
For Valary and Gracious, the medals and applause are sweet, but their dream is bigger: to one day see their AI system used across Kenya, helping reunite families with their loved ones. And if the past week is anything to go by, they are well on their way.
