Kenyan Innovators Shine on Global Stage

Nairobi, Kenya – Two Kenyan innovators, Elly Savatia and Carol Ofafa, are making headlines as they compete for the prestigious 2025 Africa Prize, a global innovation award offering a grand prize of £50,000 (approximately Sh7.6 million). They are part of a select group of 16 finalists, including two other Africans from Ghana and Uganda, vying for recognition in a competition run by the UK's Royal Academy of Engineering.

Elly Savatia, the entrepreneur behind Terp 360, has developed an innovative application designed to support individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. His app utilises artificial intelligence and 3D avatars to translate speech into sign language with remarkable fluidity, setting it apart from existing tools. Savatia's team at Signvrse collaborated with deaf and hard-of-hearing Kenyans to record over 2,300 signs, including common phrases, ensuring the app's avatar is relatable and human-like. This initiative aims to address the shortage of interpreters and foster more inclusive learning environments. Since joining the Africa Prize programme, Savatia and his team have secured a Google.org grant to expand their sign language dataset and scale their operations. They have also established a presence in Rwanda at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering and plan to pilot the app in classrooms and public services.

Carol Ofafa, the founder of E-Safiri, is tackling the challenge of sustainable energy with her battery-swapping service for electric vehicle (EV) users. Operating across four locations in Kisumu, E-Safiri provides convenient and accessible battery charging and swapping cabinets for electric bicycle and motorbike batteries, eliminating the need for personal charging setups. Each hub is powered by solar energy and uses IoT-enabled batteries that provide real-time updates for proactive maintenance.

Context and Significance

The inclusion of two Kenyan entrepreneurs among the finalists for such a significant global prize underscores Kenya's burgeoning innovation ecosystem. The Africa Prize, dedicated to fostering engineering innovation, aims to stimulate, celebrate, and reward innovation and entrepreneurship across sub-Saharan Africa. The other three finalists in the competition will each receive £10,000 (approximately Sh1.5 million), with an additional £5,000 (approximately Sh755,000) awarded to the 'One to Watch' innovator.

Kenyan innovators have consistently gained international recognition for their impactful solutions. In 2024, Esther Kimani won the 10th Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for her solar-powered AI tool that detects agricultural pests and diseases, reducing crop losses for smallholder farmers by up to 30% and increasing yields by 40%. Additionally, in 2025, two Kenyans, Wyclife Onyango of BuuPass and Abraham Mbuthia of Uzapoint Technologies Limited, were named among the Top 10 Finalists for the Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition.

Evidence/Data Box

• Prize Value: The grand prize for the 2025 Africa Prize is £50,000 (approximately Sh7.6 million).
• Kenyan Finalists: Elly Savatia (Terp 360) and Carol Ofafa (E-Safiri) are among 16 global finalists.
• Organiser: The Africa Prize is run by the UK's Royal Academy of Engineering and partly funded by the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
• Previous Kenyan Winners: Esther Kimani won the 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.

What to Watch

The final announcement of the 2025 Africa Prize winner will be keenly watched across Kenya, as it could further inspire local innovators and attract more investment into the country's technology and entrepreneurship sectors. The success of Kenyan entrepreneurs on global platforms highlights the potential for homegrown solutions to address both local and international challenges, particularly in areas like accessibility and sustainable energy.