Maxwell Karanja, Dennis Kyalo and Joshua Mumo present the trophy to the school.Three students from Kilembwa Secondary School in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County have clinched victory in a national robotics competition, the World Robot Olympiad (WRO), earning the prestigious opportunity to represent Kenya at the international finals in Singapore this November.
However, the dream of Maxwell Karanja, a Form 3 student and his colleagues hangs in the balance as they appeal to well-wishers for urgent financial assistance to cover their travel and accommodation costs.
Their winning project, designed for this year’s space exploration theme, showcased a sophisticated robot capable of assembling a rocket, a real-life application of robotics in space technology.
Joshua Mumo, a teammate, explains that their creation operates using intricate codes, guided by colour sensor to precisely navigate its tasks on the playboard.
“As the challenge begins, you have to measure the distance accurately, make sure your codes are correct and then the robot will go picking objects and completing tasks following the colour sensors that we have coded t pick and drop objects in the allocated slots, and one slight error like inaccurate starting distance will distort the entire thing ss the robot only responds to specific codes,” he explains, adding that the team has specific roles to play to ensure everything works perfectly.
Karanja, popularly known as “the captain” among his peers, attributes much of their success to the benefits of coding itself.
“This coding serves as mathematics, and you find if one is good in mathematics will be good in other subjects,” he says, noting a significant improvement in their performance across STEM subjects due to enhanced concentration, creativity, and comprehension skills gained through coding. “I believe I am doing better in and out of class, and I am even able to solve simple cases.”
The third teammate is Dennis Kyalo.
The trio’s dedication shone brightly at the national competition, where they emerged as champions in the senior category, outperforming students from larger, better-equipped institutions.
Other schools that also performed well in the seniors’ category include St Mary’s Kibabii Boys, SCLP Samaj School, and Kemeloi Boys, who will participate in Slovenia, South Africa/Saudi Arabia tournaments later in the year.
This victory secured Kilembwa’s spot as Kenyan representative at the international competitions in Singapore on November 26, 2025.
“What made us stand out among big schools that are well equipped was our hard work, the passion and the commitment we have put into this,” says Karanja. “Proceeding as Kenyan representatives to Singapore means a lot to us, therefore, we urge Kenyans of goodwill to help us achieve our dreams.”
Their urgent plea for help has been echoed by the school principal, Jeremiah Kyalo Ndumai. He confirmed that Kilembwa Secondary School is not in a financial position to cover the substantial costs of airfare and accommodation for the students in Singapore.
“From the budget I have seen, it is very expensive, and the
school cannot afford it, Principal Ndumai states, humbly asking well-wishers to
provide the financial assistance needed for his students to perform their best
on the global stage.
Their winning project, designed for this year’s space exploration theme, showcased a sophisticated robot capable of assembling a rocket, a real-life application of robotics in space technology.The trip to Singapore will cost each student an approximate of USD 1835 (Sh236,888) inclusive of a return flight, hotel, meals, local transport, visa fee, travel insurance, WRO registration; therefore, the amount required for the entire team will total to an approximate of USD 7785 (Sh1,0005,000).
The school’s swoop into computer studies and robotics has been greatly facilitated by Kenya Connect, an organisation dedicated to supporting under-resourced rural schools in Mwala Sub-County.
According to Patrick Munguti, the Director of Education and Technology at Kenya Connect, their support includes providing resources, equipment, and teacher training, and building and equipping computer laboratories with funding from partners like Future Investment Initiatives and Google.
He noted that the current Form 4 class will even sit for national computer exams, and the school plans to offer computer studies as a core subject for Grade 10 by next year, already seeing an overall improvement in school performance.
Munguti expresses strong confidence that the Kilembwa team will have a competitive edge in Singapore, impressed by their dedication and practice.
“Last year, we managed to take three students from Mbaikini Girls School to Türkiye for the international robotics finals, and they were able to learn and interact with other countries and understand the level of other countries in terms of technology,” he recalls.
He also emphasised the invaluable exposure these competitions offer and that robotics and coding significantly boost students’ creativity and innovation, leading to a profound impact in rural schools.
Michael Muthama, a teacher at Kilembwa School who is also the team’s coach, is equally confident in his boys.
“There was a day I left them in the computer lab, and the next day in morning I found they had slept in the lab working on the project the entire night, burning the midnight oil to prepare for the competition, and I must say they deserve the win,” he says, illustrating their commitment.
He adds that students involved in coding and robotics consistently excel in their exams, proving how these skills expand their educational scope.
Looking ahead, Coach Muthama confirms they will refine their robot to improve accuracy, addressing minor points that cost them marks in the national competition.
Brian Mbuvi, the Program Assistant at the Technology Department at Kenya Connect, has been instrumental in providing essential equipment like sensors and coding assistance.
“I have been coming to the school every Monday to sit with the boys and handle any challenges they may have in the coding of their project and also working alongside the teacher to make sure the students have all the items they need,” Mbuvi says. “I am sure with the kind of teamwork that we have been having, these boys will emerge the winners in the international robotics competition.”
As these talented young Kenyans prepare to showcase their integrity on the world stage, their journey hinges on the support of their community and well-wishers.
Helping them reach Singapore is not just about competing; it is about investing in the future of Kenyan innovation and inspiring countless others.
