By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
Pic 2: [L-R] Former Ambassador of Ireland to Kenya & Board Member, Young Scientists & Technology Exhibition Ireland, Dr. Vincent O’Neill awarding the overall winners of the 8th annual Young Scientists Kenya National Science & Technology Exhibition, Ian Mwadiloh & Kon Lual Ajok alongside their teacher, Anne Zachary.
For Kon Lual and Ian Mwadiloh, winning the 2025 Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) National Exhibition marked the beginning of an exciting journey rather than the culmination of one. Their success has opened doors to higher education, international exposure, and the opportunity to develop innovative technology with the potential to transform public governance.
Young Scientists Kenya is built on a simple but powerful belief: that Kenya’s young people possess immense untapped talent, and by providing them with a platform to develop practical solutions to challenges in their communities, STEM education becomes more than a classroom subject—it becomes a pathway to innovation and opportunity.
Kon Lual is set to join Strathmore University this September, while Ian Mwadiloh is already pursuing a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the university. Their award-winning innovation, Afronomy Chain, a blockchain-based platform designed to improve transparency in the use of public funds, has continued to evolve since their victory.
Following feedback from judges during the national competition, the duo expanded the platform by introducing Netizen, a public-facing layer that allows citizens to interact with government expenditure data, strengthening accountability and encouraging public participation instead of relying solely on institutional oversight.
Lessons for the Next Generation
Reflecting on their journey, both innovators encourage aspiring young scientists to embrace persistence.
Kon, who competed unsuccessfully in 2023 before returning to win the national title in 2025, believes resilience is the key to success.
“Go for it as early as you can, so that you can fail long enough to succeed,” he says.
Ian echoes the same philosophy, urging students to see every setback as an opportunity to improve.
“Treat every setback as a chance to show your work to more people, gather feedback, and rebuild before the next attempt.”
YSK National Director Dr. Victor Mwongera says the competition is about much more than winning awards.
“Technology is now integral to our daily lives. Our goal is to nurture thinkers and problem solvers who will drive innovation and create meaningful change far beyond the exhibition floor.”
Global Exposure Through International Partnership
After their victory, Kon and Ian travelled to Dublin through YSK’s nine-year partnership with Ireland’s Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (YSTE).
The experience connected them with global innovators, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders, including Patrick Collison, who won Ireland’s national science exhibition before co-founding global financial technology company Stripe.
For the two Kenyan students, exposure to mentors and innovators who had successfully walked the same path proved invaluable, reinforcing the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and international partnerships in nurturing innovation.
Kon believes Kenya’s young people have the ability to compete with the world’s best innovators.
“Even us, African students, have potential that is still untapped. We can innovate the next big things.”»
Looking Ahead to YSK 2026
The next chapter begins from August 5–9, 2026, when 308 students from across Kenya will gather at Moi Girls High School, Nairobi, to present 154 innovative STEM projects during the Young Scientists Kenya National Exhibition 2026.
Held under the theme “Shaping Kenya’s AI Future Using STEM,” the exhibition will bring together students, teachers, parents, industry leaders, policymakers, and the public to experience groundbreaking ideas designed to solve real-world challenges.
The event remains one of Kenya’s premier platforms for nurturing scientific talent and inspiring the country’s next generation of innovators.
About Young Scientists Kenya
Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) is an initiative of the Ministry of Education and the Government of Ireland, through the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya. The programme provides students from across the country with an opportunity to demonstrate innovation and showcase their scientific talents through a national science and technology competition.
YSK is founded on the belief that Kenyan youth possess extraordinary talent and creativity. By providing a platform where they can develop and showcase practical solutions to challenges within their communities, the initiative inspires more young people to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) while contributing to Kenya’s innovation ecosystem.
