Kenya’s Juliana Rotich Bags Top Award in Germany for her Tech Innovations.

An IT pioneer in Kenya, Juliana Rotich was accorded the German Africa Foundation award for her splendid work in digital revolution in Africa.

The award was given to her by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Allianz Forum next to Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin, Germany.

The award ceremony was attended by over 300 guests from political, business and social realm.

The German Africa Foundation has been annually awarding outstanding African personalities who have contributed in a remarkable way to peace, democracy, human rights, economic development or culture on the African continent.

“The global demand for her innovations impressively proves that digital products ‘made in Africa’ can conquer the world market,” said the statement.

The 42-year-old is the co-founder of Ushahidi, an open source platform that has revolutionized flow of information worldwide. She is also the co-founder of the technology company BRCK, which is the largest public Wi-Fi provider in Sub-Saharan Africa since February 2019

Other co-founders who work along side Julian are Mr Erik Hersman, Mrs Ory Okolloh and Mr. David Kobia.

The BRCK designed a battery-powered, multi-connection device that provides internet access through various channels without electricity for up to 8 hours, ensuring that regions with low infrastructure or crisis areas have access to digital world and what is happening around them. BRCK is today in 150 countries around the world.

The software was developed after the 2007 General Election in Kenya, when several riots and serious violent acts were recorded.

The open-source software allows people to upload incidents like electoral fraud, corruption,human rights violation and make the information acquired accessible in real time on an online map.