Kabarak University took part in the NIRU Pre-Hackathon, a national mentorship and capacity-building programme organized by the National Intelligence Research University (NIRU) as part of the lead-up to the National AI Hackathon.
The pre-hackathon was held on 19 and 20 January 2026 in Nairobi and attracted widespread national interest, with more than 2,000 applications submitted by innovators and institutions from across the country. From these applications, 185 teams were selected to participate in the intensive mentorship programme.
The event provided a structured platform for participating teams to refine their ideas through expert mentorship, technical guidance, and innovation support. Participants engaged in focused sessions covering problem identification, solution design, development of minimum viable products (MVPs), and the alignment of innovations with national development priorities.
Kabarak University was among the institutions represented at the pre-hackathon, with its teams actively participating in the mentorship activities. Notably, Kabarak University teams were among the top 100 teams selected to advance to the finals, which are scheduled to take place in March 2026. This achievement highlights the quality, relevance, and innovation potential of the solutions developed by the university’s participants.
Through this engagement, Kabarak University reaffirmed its commitment to innovation, research, and experiential learning. The university’s participation in the NIRU Pre-Hackathon underscores its dedication to nurturing innovative talent and preparing students to contribute meaningfully to national and global technological advancement in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
