Celebrating the Solutech x Tech Sisters Kenya Mentorship Launch
A Celebration of Possibility
When Tech Sisters Kenya first came together, we knew one truth well: figuring out your place in tech can be overwhelming.
There are events. Bootcamps. Courses.
But often, there’s no one to walk with you beyond the day.
That’s why this moment is more than special - it’s a celebration. 💜
On 22nd September 2025, at Solutech Ltd, we officially launched the Solutech x Tech Sisters Kenya Mentorship Program a 3-month journey designed to ensure that no woman has to walk her path in tech alone
The Seed That Started It All
This mentorship grew from a question we carried after last year’s Code Challenge Series 2024, where we mentored 43 women in 4 weeks:
“What happens after this……?”
The sessions were vibrant, inspiring, and impactful. Yet when the day ended, many women still faced the same challenge: figuring out the next step, alone.
This mentorship is our answer to that gap. A way of saying:
“You don’t have to walk this journey by yourself. We’ll walk with you.”
How We Selected Our Mentees
The road to our launch was carefully built.
The Call for Applications
We opened applications with a simple intention to first extend value to the #TechSisters who have been walking this journey with us. Because in our community, growth flows where commitment already lives.Shortlisting with Intention
Out of 45 applicants, we shortlisted 28 based on eligibility, passion, and alignment with mentorship goals.Interviews & Introductions
We then sent technical and video introduction interviews to the 28 shortlisted with that:
Technical interviews tested problem-solving and readiness.
Video introductions revealed communication, clarity, and drive.
After launching the technical interview phase, 15 mentees responded and completed both parts of the assessment.
Each submission was scored against key areas: from code structure and creativity to clarity of thought and motivation for mentorship.
What We Observed
From the 15 mentees who completed both assessments, several insights stood out.
Many showcased strong logical thinking and problem-solving skills, with creative approaches to real-world technical challenges. Their code structure and clarity reflected growing confidence and curiosity.
We also noticed that while most mentees communicated their motivation and passion for tech beautifully, a few struggled to express their long-term goals clearly , a reminder of why mentorship and guided reflection are so valuable.
This assessment phase laid the foundation for what came next the Pre-Training Week and the selection of participants who advanced to the Code Challenge Day.
Pre-Training Week: Building Foundations That Last
Before the big day, we held a Pre-Training Week to prepare our mentees not just technically, but holistically.
We began by realigning on what Tech Sisters Kenya stands for: a space built on relationships, collaboration, and sisterhood. We reminded everyone that beyond code, we are a community one that values friendship, mentorship, and bonds that continue long after the program ends. 💜
Throughout the week, mentees dove into practical and soft-skill sessions designed to strengthen both their confidence and teamwork:
💬 Communication & Personal Branding: Mentees learned how to express their ideas with clarity and confidence, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, where they were encouraged to build authentic professional brands. As part of this, they wrote heartfelt “notes to future mentors” - an exercise that invited reflection, gratitude, and boldness in networking. ✨
🧠 Logical & System Thinking: Using their own technical assessments, mentees revisited problem-solving from a deeper perspective. They explored how to think logically and design solutions systematically - lessons that directly sharpened their readiness for the upcoming challenge.
💻 Slack & Git Workflows: Collaboration was at the core. Using Slack and Git as communication tools, mentees were given small, structured assignments - like posting daily progress updates or completing shared Git tasks. These exercises highlighted the value of communication and collaboration in remote technical environments.
🤝 Mentor–Mentee Relationships – We explored what makes mentorship meaningful -listening, curiosity, accountability, and shared growth.
Each of these sessions helped the mentees grow not only as individuals but also as a team. By the end of the week, they weren’t just preparing for a challenge they were learning how to communicate, collaborate, and lead together. They built shared understanding, confidence, and a sense of belonging. When launch day arrived, the room wasn’t filled with strangers; it was filled with teammates who trusted and believed in one another.
And as Kristine Nyaga , one of the Mentees later shared
“I was nervous at first, but everything we did during pre-training came back to me - how to communicate, how to plan, how to think through a system before writing a line of code.”
The Challenge That Tested It All
Code Challenge Day: Turning Preparation into Power
The journey continued with the Code Challenge Day, hosted at the Solutech Limited offices : a day that truly tested skill, focus, and teamwork.
Mentees walked into the room knowing it was their moment to apply everything they had learned during the pre-training week. The energy was palpable , part excitement, part nerves, and a shared determination to rise to the occasion.
The challenge was simple on paper, but complex in practice: - Solve a real FMCG industry problem in just 3–4 hours.
As the clock started ticking, keyboards began to hum. You could feel the focus in the air , quiet conversations, quick debugging exchanges, their notebooks filling up with diagrams and logic flows.
For many, this was their first time working under such tight timelines. There were moments of frustration, laughter, breakthroughs, and yes, a few anxious glances at the ticking clock. But that’s what made it beautiful it was real.
Check out the hands-on collaboration during the code challenge
When the time was up, teams presented their solutions before a panel of judges. Each presentation was a reflection not just of technical ability, but of growth, creativity, and collaboration.
Why This Launch Matters
Our official pairing of mentees and mentors wasn’t just a formal event - it was a milestone in representation.
Even more powerful?
Solutech responded to our call for female mentors.
This means our mentees are guided not only by brilliant engineers, but also by women they can see themselves in.
Representation is not just symbolic - it’s transformative. 💫
Because when a young woman in tech sees someone like her leading, she believes she can lead too.
Impact in Motion
This mentorship isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about:
Closing the gap between learning and belonging.
Supporting final-year women to step into their careers with courage.
Building a community that sustains—not just inspires.
For us as Tech Sisters Kenya, this is one of the most meaningful milestones we’ve championed. It shows what’s possible when community meets intention, and when companies like Solutech Limited step up to walk the journey with us.
Looking Forward
This is impact in motion and it’s only the beginning.
To our 15 mentees, our mentors (Tecla Ayore, Muthoni Wachira, Shanny Jacquiline and the Solutech team), and everyone who believed in this journey: thank you.
Together, we’ve started something that will ripple far beyond these 3 months. Because when women walk together, we go further, grow deeper, and rise higher.
With heart💜,
Bosibori Valeria ,
Program Lead , SolutechxTechSistersKenya Mentorship Planning Team
