Kenyan Innovator Secures Africa's Top Engineering Accolade

Nairobi, Kenya – In a significant boost for assistive technology and Kenyan innovation, Elly Savatia, a Kenyan engineer, has won the 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. Savatia was recognised for his pioneering work on Terp 360, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application designed to translate speech into sign language using 3D avatars. The announcement was made on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal, during the live final of the Africa Prize programme.

The Royal Academy of Engineering, which founded the prize, awarded Savatia £50,000 (approximately KSh 8.6 million) to further scale his innovation. Terp 360 aims to bridge the chronic shortage of sign language interpreters in Africa, thereby enhancing accessibility in educational institutions, workplaces, and public services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Historical Context and Growing Kenyan Influence

Savatia's victory marks a notable achievement for Kenya's burgeoning technology sector, particularly in the development of inclusive digital tools. This is the second consecutive year a Kenyan innovator has won the Africa Prize, following Esther Kimani's triumph in 2024 for her solar-powered AI pest detection tool. Other Kenyan winners include Norah Magero in 2022 for Vaccibox, a mobile, solar-powered fridge for medicines.

The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, established in 2014 by the Royal Academy of Engineering, is the continent's largest award dedicated to engineering innovation. It provides crucial commercialisation support, training, mentoring, and networking opportunities to African innovators developing scalable engineering solutions to local challenges.

Policy and Governance in Assistive Technology

The recognition of innovations like Terp 360 underscores the growing importance of assistive technologies in national development agendas. While specific Kenyan policies directly addressing AI-powered sign language translation are still evolving, the broader national digital transformation agenda encourages technological solutions that promote inclusivity and improve quality of life. The success of Terp 360 highlights the potential for private sector innovation to complement government efforts in addressing societal needs, particularly for persons with disabilities.

Stakeholders and Testimonies

Elly Savatia expressed profound gratitude for the award, stating, “I'm totally grateful for this and it is a testament to the innovative assistive technology work that is coming from Africa.” He further added, “I'm really looking forward to the excellence that will come out of Signvrse, the rest of the shortlistees and the African continent.” Rebecca Enonchong FREng, Chair of the Africa Prize judging panel, lauded the innovation, remarking, “This is exactly what the Africa Prize is all about. It's showcasing cutting edge innovations by Africans for the World.”

Another Kenyan engineer, Carol Ofafa, was also among the 2025 Africa Prize finalists for her startup E-Safiri, which focuses on solar-powered charging and battery-swapping hubs for electric bicycles and motorbikes. This demonstrates the breadth of Kenyan engineering talent addressing diverse challenges.

Evidence and Data

• Winner: Elly Savatia (Kenya)
• Innovation: Terp 360, an AI-powered app translating speech to sign language using 3D avatars.
• Award: £50,000 (approximately KSh 8.6 million)
• Awarding Body: Royal Academy of Engineering (UK)
• Date of Award: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 (announced October 16, 2025)
• Previous Kenyan Winners: Esther Kimani (2024), Norah Magero (2022).

Risks and Implications

While Terp 360 offers immense potential, challenges remain in scaling such an innovation across a continent with diverse languages and varying levels of digital literacy and infrastructure. Ensuring the accuracy and cultural appropriateness of sign language translations across different regions will be crucial. Furthermore, the long-term sustainability of the business model and accessibility for low-income communities will be key factors in its widespread adoption and impact.

Timeline and Next Steps

Savatia and his team are preparing to expand Terp 360 into the business-to-business (B2B) market, with a focus on the education, corporate, and healthcare sectors. The £50,000 grant will be instrumental in supporting this next phase of development and commercialisation. The Africa Prize programme itself involves an eight-month tailored training and mentoring period for shortlisted entrepreneurs, culminating in a showcase event.

What to Watch

The expansion of Terp 360 into various sectors will be a key area to watch, particularly its impact on improving communication for the deaf community in Kenya and beyond. The continued growth of Kenyan innovators in the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation also signals a promising future for the country's role in developing impactful engineering solutions for the continent.

Related Stories

Kenya's consistent success in the Africa Prize highlights a vibrant ecosystem of innovation. Previous winners like Esther Kimani's pest detection device and Norah Magero's Vaccibox demonstrate the diverse applications of engineering in addressing critical challenges in agriculture and health. These achievements collectively position Kenya as a leader in African engineering innovation.