EldoHub CEO Magdaline Chepkemoi Champions Girls’ Empowerment Through Technology and Leadership

 The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of EldoHub, a leading technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship hub based in Eldoret, Magdaline Chepkemoi, has emphasized the importance of empowering girls through technology and leadership development.

Speaking during the International Day of the Girl Child 2025 celebrations in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Chepkemoi urged students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders to support girls in learning, innovating, and leading in technology-related fields.

A computer scientist and recipient of the Head of State Commendation (HSC) in 2023, Chepkemoi is widely recognized for her contribution to Kenya’s digital economy and her commitment to youth and women’s empowerment. She affirmed that girls can excel in any academic discipline when provided with the right encouragement and resources.

Sharing her personal journey, Chepkemoi recalled,

“I loved math and science, but my family didn’t believe computer science was for girls. They wanted me to be a nurse or a teacher. I followed my dream, graduated with first-class honours in computer science, and proved that girls can do anything.”

Through EldoHub, Chepkemoi has created a platform for young people and women to develop digital skills and entrepreneurial capacity. One of its flagship programs, the EldoHub Tech Academy, offers training in coding, teamwork, communication, and leadership, alongside mentorship and business coaching to prepare youth for employment and entrepreneurship.

“We want girls to be ready for jobs and to start their own businesses,” she explained.

Chepkemoi also celebrated the pioneering contributions of women in technology, citing Ada Lovelace, the 19th-century British mathematician recognized as the world’s first computer programmer, and Grace Hopper, the American computer scientist and naval officer who invented the first compiler and contributed to the creation of the UNIVAC, the first all-electronic digital computer.

“Ada Lovelace was the first computer programmer. Grace Hopper helped make computer languages easier to use. Girls should know these stories and believe in themselves,” she said.

Addressing the issue of online safety, Chepkemoi urged parents to play an active role in guiding their children’s digital interactions.

“Children face many dangers online. Parents must teach them not to share private information or talk to strangers,” she cautioned.

She further emphasized the need for education for all girls, including those with disabilities.

“Every girl should be in school. If she can’t afford fees, we must help. Girls should also be encouraged to lead,” she noted.

On the sensitive issue of teenage pregnancy, Chepkemoi advocated compassion and support for affected girls.

“If a girl becomes pregnant, she should keep the pregnancy to term. This does not mean we support teenage pregnancy — we support girls to rise again,” she clarified.

Closing her address, the EldoHub CEO expressed optimism for a future where girls and boys work together to build stronger, more equitable communities.

“When we give girls the right tools and support, we build stronger communities,” said Magdaline Chepkemoi.