//kood brought Estonian education innovation to Kenya

The kood model

The programme operates on a fundamental principle: everyone has the potential to become a developer. There are no traditional lectures. Instead, students work through problems independently and with peers, building perseverance and intellectual curiosity alongside technical skill.

This is not just a teaching philosophy — it is the structure of the entire programme. No instructor stands at the front of the room. The learning happens through doing, failing, and trying again.

The first Selection Sprint in Nairobi

The three-week Selection Sprint was held at Greatwell Training College in Nairobi. A local project manager handled partner identification, logistics, and procuring computers for participants. Annika Tamm — a graduate of kood/Jõhvi and current Technical Coordinator — travelled from Estonia to mentor learners on-site for two weeks.

The response far exceeded expectations. 130 individuals applied. 55 joined the Sprint. 33 completed it. Of those, 13 top performers passed all assignments and examinations, earning a place in the main programme — beginning September 13th, studying alongside Estonian students.

Learning without borders

The 13 kood/Nairobi students now study virtually with Estonian cohorts on identical learning platforms and with identical assignments. They exchange feedback, analyse solutions collectively, and celebrate progress together — demonstrating that an international learning community can flourish without geographical constraints.

As one participant put it: “It’s amazing how distance disappears when you’re learning together. Even from across continents, we’re building solutions — and friendships — side by side.”

Sprinting toward success in Nairobi

Alongside the coursework, guest speakers made a lasting impression on the cohort — inspiring sprinters to think big and stay persistent.

Rose from Bolt

Rose from Bolt joined us and shared both her personal journey and the Bolt success story. She spoke openly about the ups and downs on her path — how rejections shaped her resilience and how she kept going until the right opportunity came along.

She then took the room into the story of Bolt’s beginnings, and how a young entrepreneur named Markus turned a simple idea into one of Europe’s fastest-growing mobility companies.

One message stood out above all others:

Don’t give up — you’re not for everyone, but you are the solution for someone.

She also reminded the room how powerful soft skills can be — sometimes it’s not just about what you do, but who you are that makes the difference. Big thanks to Bolt for supporting local tech talent and being part of this journey.

Engineers from M-Pesa

We also welcomed a brilliant group of engineers from M-Pesa — Systems Engineers, DevOps specialists, and Software Developers — who generously shared their experience in the field.

Our sprinters got firsthand insights into:

• What life really looks like in these roles
• The daily challenges and rewards
• And the hot topic of AI and LLMs

It was especially encouraging for the sprinters to see that some of the engineers were still early in their careers — proving that big impact and innovation aren’t reserved for “later down the line.”

Tools like AI can help speed things up, but the fundamentals of software development are still key to building something great. — Job, Software Engineer at M-Pesa

Thank you to the M-Pesa team for taking the time to visit and share your journeys, insights, and inspirational words with our sprinters — it truly made a difference.

What comes next

Support for kood/Nairobi students extends beyond the programme itself. Plans include workshops, internship pathways, and participation in international conferences such as Latitude59 Kenya — coordinated with Kenyan and global partners.

Those interested in supporting African software developers can reach the team at nairobi@kood.tech.