
In a world where transparency and accountability are crucial pillars of democratic governance, technology offers powerful tools to strengthen public integrity.
The Campaign Finance Watch Tool Hackathon 2026 invites young innovators, tech enthusiasts, and civic-minded problem-solvers to step up and be part of a movement that harnesses technology to safeguard Kenyaโs political processes ahead of the 2027 elections.
Organised by Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya) in partnership with the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA), URAI Trust, and the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), and hosted with research and innovation support from Strathmore Universityโs iLabAfrica Centre, this hackathon challenges participants to contribute directly to the fight against corruption by enhancing the Campaign Finance Watch Tool.
Why This Matters
Political financing plays a critical role in democratic participation โ it enables parties and candidates to carry out their activities. However, when political finance lacks transparency and accountability, it becomes a fertile ground for corruption, unfair competition, and undue influence over political decisions. This opacity undermines trust in the electoral process and weakens democratic institutions.
The Campaign Finance Watch Tool is designed to monitor political financing, visualise campaign finance data, and expose misuse of public resources in political activities. By enhancing this tool, innovators can help close gaps in public access to political finance information and support greater accountability in the political landscape.
Who Should Participate
The hackathon targets teams of up to four members, especially those with backgrounds or interests in:
- Web development and UI/UX design
- Data visualisation and analytics
- Computer science, ICT, statistics, design, journalism and media
- Civic tech and governance innovation
Participants are encouraged to bring diverse skills to the table and are required to have gender representation in their teams, fostering inclusivity and innovation from multiple perspectives.
Over the course of the hackathon, teams will:
- Identify gaps and design innovative features for the Campaign Finance Watch Tool
- Create enhanced visualisations using real political finance data
- Build functional prototypes and pitch them to expert judges.
Winning teams will benefit from training and mentorship, opportunities to implement their solutions on a national platform, grant support, visibility, and networking with leaders in governance and technology.
The Campaign Finance Watch Tool Hackathon 2026 is more than a competition โ itโs a chance to shape how Kenyans engage with political finance and hold leaders accountable. If youโre passionate about tech, data, and democratic governance, this is your platform to make an impact.
Learn more and register through the official event page at iLabAfrica.