- Vihiga Friends High School has become the only public school representing Kenya at the World Robot Olympiad 2026 in Hyderabad, India.
- The team has earned its place by finishing second in the national robotics competition, showcasing the school’s growing STEM profile.
- Principal Albert Masiolo has expressed pride in the students’ achievement, describing it as the beginning of a broader journey to inspire innovation
Vihiga Friends High School has taken its place on the global innovation stage after three of its students and their teacher arrived in Mumbai, India, ahead of their journey to Hyderabad for the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2026.
The school’s participation in the international robotics competition marks a major milestone in its growing profile as a centre of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
The team earned the opportunity to represent Kenya after finishing second in the national competition, an achievement that has placed the school among Kenya’s emerging institutions in robotics and technological innovation. The participation is particularly significant because Vihiga Friends High School is the only public school from Kenya in the team heading to the international competition, giving its learners an opportunity to showcase their creativity, technical skills and problem-solving abilities before a global audience.
Senior Principal Albert Masiolo said the school was proud of the students for demonstrating that learners from public schools can excel in technology and innovation when given the right environment and encouragement. “This is a very important milestone for Vihiga Friends High School and for our students. We are proud that our learners have earned an opportunity to represent Kenya on an international platform. It demonstrates that our young people have the ability, talent and creativity to compete with students from different parts of the world,” said Masiolo.
He said the school’s participation was not only about competition but also about exposing learners to new ideas, technologies and opportunities that could shape their future careers. Masiolo added that the school was committed to strengthening STEM education and nurturing a culture where learners are encouraged to identify problems, develop solutions and turn their ideas into practical innovations.
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The journey to India has therefore been described as a significant step in the school’s efforts to position itself as a leading institution in STEM education. For the students, the international competition provides a rare opportunity to interact with other young innovators, learn from different approaches to robotics and gain valuable experience in solving real-world challenges through technology.
Their achievement is also expected to inspire other learners in Vihiga County and across Kenya to embrace robotics, coding, engineering and other technology-based disciplines. The school’s success comes at a time when STEM education is increasingly being emphasised as a pathway towards equipping young people with skills needed in a rapidly changing world.
Through the WRO platform, the Vihiga Friends team will have an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of Kenyan learners while gaining exposure to international standards of innovation and teamwork. Masiolo said the school views the students’ participation as the beginning of a bigger journey rather than the end of their achievement.
“We want this opportunity to inspire many more learners. Our message to students is that they should believe in their abilities, embrace innovation and never limit themselves because of where they come from. Vihiga Friends can produce learners who can compete anywhere in the world,” he said.
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The school’s journey from the national competition to the international stage has consequently become a source of pride for the institution and the wider Vihiga community. As the students proceed to Hyderabad, their participation is expected to further raise the profile of Vihiga Friends High School as an institution nurturing young innovators.
Their appearance at the World Robot Olympiad showcases the potential of Kenyan learners and a demonstration that public schools can produce students capable of competing on the international STEM stage.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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