Kenyan startup Totohealth, which uses SMS technology to help reduce maternal mortality, child mortality and predict developmental disabilities in a child, was declared the overall winner of the Innovations Awards at the ongoing Connected East Africa event in Diani.
The annual awards, this year sponsored by Konza Techno City, look to recognise and celebrate Kenyan startups that have developed ICT solutions driving economic growth and social development.
“The awards are designed to highlight innovations steering development in line with Kenya’s blueprint vision to build a vibrant middle income economy by the year 2030. The awards cover two of the three key pillars of Vision 2030: economic and social pillars,” Konza Techno City said.
There were 586 applications for the awards, which were eventually narrowed down to finalists in six categories. Totohealth also won in the Healthcare Delivery category.
The Education and Training category was won by Boresha, which produces educational dgital content, while M-Changa emerged victorious in Financial Services for its SMS-based fundraising platform.
Housing and Urbanisation was won by online property listing platform Kejahunt, the IT and telecoms category by jobs platform Kuhustle, and the Local and International Trade category by M-Shamba, which connects smallholder farmers to buyers through a mobile app.