NAIROBI, KENYA — August 2026 — 18 young people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD among other differences in learning and processing information have graduated from the Neurodivergents in Tech Programme at @iLabAfrica – Strathmore University.
This graduation marked another step towards creating opportunities for young people who are often overlooked in the technology sector. The students demonstrated websites, mobile applications, graphic designs, games, artificial intelligence projects and robotics they had developed during their training. Many of the projects reflected their interests, talents and ambitions, from football and music to books, travel, beauty and business.
Bradley Mang’eni developed a football website featuring Arsenal players, while Elsie Ngaira created a website for a mock beauty business. Other graduates built an online music store, digital bookstore, games store and bike rental application.
A robotics project by Clarence Chebet, Jack Mutuma and Martha Musau demonstrated an ultrasonic sensor that detects when a hand is nearby and switches on a light. Clarence also explained the code behind the project before encouraging other young people facing similar challenges to keep pursuing opportunities.
“If you have a problem, don’t give up. Never give up. And if anyone has the same condition that we have, please let them know about the programme and the projects. Let them know that they can have a future too.”
Beyond Technology Skills
Established in 2017, the Neurodivergents in Tech Programme equips young people with practical technology and life skills while supporting pathways into employment, entrepreneurship and further education. It has trained more than 74 students, partnered with at least 10 organisations and recorded more than 20 documented positive transitions into employment, further education and entrepreneurship.
For alumni, the impact can extend well beyond technology. Nicholas Irungu, an advocate for young people with dyslexia and other learning challenges, recalled joining the programme without the confidence to use public transport independently. He later completed an internship at the Kenya Institute of Special Education and secured a further one-year contract.
For Juliet Wambui, the programme helped open a path into entrepreneurship. The 28-year-old graduate, Ms Autism Kenya 2026 and Diversity Champion Kenya 2026, runs Empowered to Grow, a handicrafts business that has grown from her family’s dining table to employing three other young people from her class.
Her sister, Lorna Mwangi, described the change she has witnessed:
“Juliet gained confidence; she gained a network of people who saw her ability before her disability.”
Building Opportunities Together
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Joseph Sevilla, Director of @iLabAfrica – Strathmore University, reflected on how the programme began in 2017 after a simple question from a Strathmore University lecturer: “Could we do something?”
That question led to the programme’s first cohort and a commitment to creating opportunities for young people with different learning and developmental needs. Organisations including Kenya Airways, Safaricom PLC, Kenya Power, Absa Bank, Waumini SACCO, Dimension Data, NIBS College and Kenya Ports Authority have since supported efforts to create opportunities for participants.
Partners at the graduation included Next Step Foundation, United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK) and Sightsavers Kenya, among others.
For the 18 graduates, the next step is to take their skills beyond the classroom and into workplaces, businesses, further education and their communities.
As Irene Gitangu, Operations Manager at @iLabAfrica – Strathmore University, noted:
“This course continues to demonstrate that when talent is nurtured, great things happen.”
The programme’s challenge now is to continue building the pathways that allow that talent to thrive.
Know more about the orogramme: https://ilabafrica.strathmore.edu/neurodivergence-in-tech/