Five students from Nairobi's Precious Blood Secondary School, Riruta are amongst finalists taking part in the Technovation Challenge final, currently underway in San Francisco, California.
The Kenyan students will present their transport app, M-Safiri, during the two-day Technovation Challenge 2016 where they stand a chance to win US$10,000 in funding.
Priscilla Wambui, Laura Ayushi, Victoria Kanan, Gladys Wairimu and Harriet Karanja came up with the original idea behind the app, which was then developed through the Safaricom Women In Technology (WIT) App Challenge initiative.
According to the learners, M-Safiri app addresses the difficulties that come with booking a bus or matatu during peak seasons such as the festive seasons, back-to-school or when one is unable to physically go to a bus station to have a seat reserved for them.
They hope that the solution will be adopted by providers of rental vehicles and limos in order to raise the standards of travel and transport.
Ann Cheboi, a member of Safaricom Women In Technology says they are proud of the success that the students have achieved through the opportunity to take part in the Technovation Challenge. "The aim of Safaricom WIT is to inspire girls to see themselves not just as users of technology, but as inventors, designers, builders and entrepreneurs who can solve real-world problems through technology,"
Cheboi adds that the girls are made to work in teams to develop mobile apps, conduct market research, write business plans, and create a "pitch" for funding for apps like M-Safiri that are aimed at solving local community problems.
The students were coached by Daisy Ndung'u, a student at Multimedia University and mentored by Anne Cheboi, Josephine Kamanthe and Emily Jematia Bett from Safaricom.
High Schools students from Canada, Kazakhstan, Mexico and the United States will compete alongside M-Safiri for the top prize.
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