The University of Nairobi, through C4DLab, is hosting the Nairobi Data Science Regional Hackathon (DSRH 2026) from 19–22 October 2026 at Chiromo Campus. The four-day innovation sprint brings together university students and emerging data science professionals to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Earth Observation (EO) technologies can be harnessed to address pressing challenges in climate resilience, infrastructure development and urban planning.
Led locally by Cephas Kingori, the Nairobi edition forms part of the continental Hack4dev Data Science Hackathon Programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening Africa’s data science ecosystem through practical learning, collaboration and challenge-driven innovation.
At the heart of this year’s hackathon is an exciting Earth Observation challenge, where participants apply machine learning techniques to satellite-derived datasets, including visual building age classification. Working in multidisciplinary teams, participants develop, train and optimise predictive models using curated datasets hosted on Kaggle, with a live competition leaderboard encouraging experimentation, technical excellence and collaborative problem-solving. Beyond the competition, the challenge demonstrates the transformative potential of AI and geospatial technologies in generating actionable intelligence for infrastructure assessment, environmental monitoring and evidence-based decision-making.
DSRH 2026 underscores the importance of bridging classroom learning with real-world applications while equipping Africa’s emerging talent with the technical skills, practical experience and collaborative networks needed to develop locally relevant solutions. Hosting the hackathon further reinforces C4DLab’s growing role as a catalyst for AI-driven innovation, complementing its ongoing engagement in Earth Observation and emerging technologies, including collaborations with the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) and Expertise France.
The hackathon is powered by Hack4dev, with support from Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA), the Inter-university Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), ILIFU Cloud Computing Facility and the University of Nairobi.
As the four-day innovation sprint culminates in the recognition of outstanding teams and innovative solutions, DSRH 2026 highlights a broader vision of empowering Africa’s next generation of data scientists to transform emerging technologies into practical, scalable solutions with meaningful societal impact.
Stay connected with C4DLab for highlights, winning solutions and inspiring stories emerging from DSRH 2026.