Fighting flood risk with Artificial Intelligence: Kenya Re taps student innovation

The Corporation has brought together 90 university students from 30 universities across Kenya for the third edition of the Kenya Re AI4I Hackathon, challenging them to develop an AI-powered catastrophe modelling solution to strengthen flood risk assessment.

The event, which comes to a close today attracted 147 applicants, reflecting growing interest among young Kenyans in using technology to solve real-world problems.

Under the theme “Redefining Reinsurance Business Processing with Agentic AI and Machine Learning,” participants are applying their technical skills to a challenge with direct implications for property owners, insurers and the wider economy.

Kenya Re is turning to AI to improve how the risks associated with insuring property against calamities are assessed and how appropriate premiums are determined. By combining data on hazards, property exposure, vulnerability and potential losses, catastrophe models can help insurers and reinsurers better understand the financial consequences of disasters.

This is particularly important in reinsurance, where a single flood can affect numerous insured properties within the same geographical area, potentially generating substantial claims across the insurance industry.

The hackathon seeks to transform complex catastrophe data into practical business intelligence that can support underwriting, risk management and better decision-making.

Beyond the technology, the initiative is strengthening collaboration between universities and the private sector.

Professor Peter Waiganjo of the University of Nairobi, who is deeply engaged in the project, said industry had opened its doors to academia, creating an important opportunity to connect research with practical application.

He described the partnership as a way of bridging the gap between industry and practice, while highlighting the importance of mentoring young students and preparing them to tackle real challenges in the workplace.

Kenya Re Group Managing Director Dr. Hillary Wachinga said the programme was established to nurture emerging talent, strengthen academia-industry collaboration and harness new technologies to improve business processes. His remarks were delivered by Acting General Manager, Reinsurance Operations, Mr. Paul Ahomo.

The Corporation has already seen benefits from previous hackathons, with several former participants offered internships and two subsequently absorbed into the organisation.

As the teams work towards their solutions, the initiative underscores the potential of homegrown talent and emerging technology to strengthen financial resilience and help the insurance industry prepare for an increasingly uncertain future.