Gender experts, journalists, Tech Leaders during the event./PHOTO; courtesy
Women remain significantly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
In Kenya, fewer than 30% of ICT roles are held by women, even though the tech sector continues to grow rapidly.
Limited access to devices, digital literacy gaps, and restrictive social norms all contribute to this divide.
To address this challenge, UN Women, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the African Union Commission (AUC), and Siemens launched the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI).
The program equips young women with digital literacy, coding, and ICT skills while also tackling the systemic barriers that limit their participation in the digital economy.
It has been rolled out in 11 African Union member states, including Kenya.
AnnMaria Kerubo: From Rural Roots to Global Tech Leader
Before joining AGCCI, AnnMaria Kerubo was already pursuing computer science at the University of Nairobi.
For her, AGCCI was more than a training program it was a turning point. Growing up in a rural community, few people understood what computer science was, let alone why she wanted to study it.
“When I told people I wanted to pursue computer science, many thought I was wasting my time,” she says.
“Some would ask, ‘Would you be working at a cybercafé?’ It was difficult to explain my dream to people around me, who couldn’t understand what computer science was.”
Despite the doubts, AnnMaria pressed forward, seeking opportunities to prove that technology could transform lives.
In 2024, she joined AGCCI as part of Cohort 3, and the experience gave her both the tools and the confidence to thrive.
During a two-week coding camp at Siemens in Nairobi, she gained not only technical training in areas like coding, robotics, and AI, but also critical resources, a laptop, a portable router, and structured lessons.
More importantly, the camp exposed her to the systemic barriers women face in tech and showed her how digital skills can be harnessed to solve real-world challenges.
That experience became the launchpad for her career.
Shortly after completing the camp, she secured her first job as a software engineer at Malaica, a health-tech startup supporting women during pregnancy and postpartum care.
There, she developed an AI model that sends personalized messages to expectant mothers and flags danger signs for health professionals, helping to save lives in underserved communities.
But the journey did not stop there. Through AGCCI, AnnMaria was introduced to a network of mentors, role models, and global opportunities.
Her journey continues this year as she prepares to travel to Munich, Germany, with four others to represent Africa at the One Young World Summit, where she will join other young leaders in discussions on responsible tech, peace and security, education, and the circular economy.
Looking back, AnnMaria reflects:
“AGCCI gave me more than just technical skills; it gave me a voice. It showed me that I belong in technology, even when others doubted me. It taught me that being a girl from a rural village doesn’t mean I can’t create global solutions,” she added.
“Now, I don’t just see myself as a coder, I see myself as a leader who can build tools that change how women live, work, and dream. And I want other girls to know: if I can do it, so can you.”
On 25th September, UN Women Kenya hosted a media breakfast on technology and youth innovators and bridging the digital gender gap.
The forum brought together gender experts, journalists, and technology leaders, creating a space where stories like AnnMaria’s could be amplified and connected to broader policy and cultural change.
Elizabeth Obanda: Driving Women’s Economic Empowerment
At UN Women Kenya, Elizabeth Obanda leads efforts on women’s economic empowerment, and she sees AGCCI as a crucial development accelerator.
With current estimates showing it could take over a century to fully close the gender gap, she emphasizes that investing in women’s participation in STEM is essential not only for gender equality but also for
economic growth.
In Kenya, AGCCI has hosted residential coding camps bringing together young women aged 17 to 25, including university students, recent high school graduates, and those already pursuing careers in ICT.
Each camp covers coding as well as soft skills like leadership, negotiation, and confidence-building.
To date, 213 girls have been trained across several cohorts, each receiving a laptop and continued access to e-learning platforms.
The results are tangible: some participants have developed apps tackling issues like corruption, accountability, and environmental challenges, while others have secured roles in multinational tech companies.
“The media plays a powerful role in shaping narratives and influencing perceptions,” Obanda notes.
“By amplifying these stories, we can shift cultural norms, break stereotypes, and show that girls can code and code well.”
Ireen Mwoga: Linking Tech and Environmental Solutions
Beyond AGCCI, UN partners are working to ensure that marginalized groups are included in the digital economy.
At UNEP, Ireen Mwoga supports innovators developing tech-based solutions for environmental challenges such as climate change and pollution.
She is part of Digital Kenya (DIGIKEN), a three-year joint program with UNESCO, UN Women, UNCDF, and ACTS.
The initiative focuses on building the capacity of SMEs, communities, and civil servants while also embedding inclusivity into policy design and evaluation.
By collaborating with the Kenya School of Government and local innovation hubs, DIGIKEN ensures that women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly have a voice in shaping the digital economy.
Mwoga underscores the importance of storytelling in this process:
“The media helps translate complex policies into relatable stories, especially those that highlight women in tech and show how technology solves local challenges.”
Dr. Caroline Mbaya: Digital Literacy Rooted in Communities
At the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Dr. Caroline Mbaya leads the Gender, Youth, and Inclusive Development Program.
Her work focuses on identifying the gaps that prevent women, youth, and marginalized groups from accessing and using technology, and finding practical ways to bridge them.
Through the UN joint partnership, ACTS is rolling out digital literacy programs across 11 countries via 15 community-rooted innovation hubs.
These hubs use a trainer-of-trainers model to tailor digital skills training to local needs.
Importantly, the curriculum also addresses issues such as online safety and technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
For Dr. Mbaya, digital literacy is about more than technical skills:
“We want people to adopt a positive attitude toward digital platforms, using them for empowerment, learning, and opportunities rather than harmful behavior.”
By grounding training in local contexts, ACTS ensures the program is not only relevant but transformative.
Building Africa’s Digital Future
From coding camps that launch young women’s careers, to environmental tech innovations, to grassroots digital literacy hubs, AGCCI and its allied initiatives are rewriting Africa’s digital story.
They are nurturing a generation of women who are not just consumers of technology but also creators, innovators, and leaders.
By bridging the digital gender divide, amplifying women’s stories, and embedding inclusivity at every level, these programs are helping ensure that Africa’s digital economy grows stronger, fairer, and more sustainable with women at its center.
