Four Kenyan students earn Math scholarships in Kigali
They recently excelled in the Pan-African Rising Stars Mathematics contest
The Africa Olympiad Academy (AOA) has offered scholarships to four Kenyan students to study Mathematics in Kigali, Rwanda.
The four recently excelled in the Pan-African Rising Stars Mathematics contest held at the Centre for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) based in Karen, Nairobi.
This is part of the AOA’s talent recruitment camp tour which seeks to nurture the brightest young mathematicians from across Africa.
The Four are Gilbert Ogoro and Shawn Tunai from Alliance Boys High School, Tumi Imani from Lukenya High School, and Baraka Mulwa from Mang’u High School.
Jacinta Akatsa, Chief Executive Officer of CEMASTEA, underscored the value of mathematics in solving problems.
“Mathematics is about solving problems and also about nurturing creativity,” she said, adding, “These skills are essential for building a better future, not only for Kenya but for Africa and the world.”
The contest is designed to prepare the winners for major competitions such as the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Select students will be awarded full scholarships to attend AOA, inclusive of tuition, boarding, uniform, and travel expenses.
The students were selected from across Kenya based on their performance at the Kenya Math Olympiad (KMO), which is organised by CEMASTEA, the University of Nairobi and the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) based at the University of Waterloo. KMO reaches over 17,000 students from more than 250 schools.
The camps which recently took place in Johannesburg, Kigali, and Arusha and will continue on to Kampala, followed by Gaborone for PAMO 2025.
The Co-founder and Executive Director of the African Olympiad Academy, Arun Shanmuganathan, said that the Academy chose to conduct recruitment in Kenya because they have multitalented students who have the potential to tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges.
Deputy Coordinator for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Martin Mungai, on his part said the initiative is an exciting step towards developing a deeper appreciation for mathematics, particularly among students with exceptional talent.
He added that while the program emphasizes promoting mathematical excellence, it also plays a crucial role in cultivating a strong mathematical culture and discipline.
