Connected Kenya summit ends with Olivine Technologies winning overall innovation award

By NYAMBEGA GISESA

Mombasa, Kenya: Software technology architects Olivine Technologies, a  company worth one million dollars started by three brothers three years ago ,  have won the overall 2013 Google Innovation Pavilion Award.

The young firm was awarded on May 29 during the last day of the Connected Kenya Summit held at Sarova Whitesands, Mombasa, by Google East Africa Lead Joe Mucheru.

“We are happy to have received this prestigious award. It recognizes the efforts we have put in place to use technology to create jobs,” Mr Mwaura, the Managing Editor, told the Standard.

Olivine Technologies, a Kenya-based software development company specializes in designing solutions for small and medium businesses.  The firm was started by brothers Joseph Karanja, Charles Mungai and Mark Mwaura.

The overall first runner up position went to Kisasa Technology while Jambo Pay developed by Web Tribe took third position.

Digital Divide Kenya was the winner in the BPO category, Jambo Pay developed by Web Tribe took top position in Financial Services, and Digital Divide took the price in Education and Training while Iridium Interactive won in the Health care delivery category.

The winner in social equity and poverty reduction was Duma Works, Kenya Buzz won in Tourism, Technobrain in Gender, Youth and Vulnerable groups, Youth Agro Environmental Initiative in Agriculture and Olivine Technologies was picked the best in Wholesale and Retail Trade.

Their ’s flagship product, Automated Sales Inventory Management Solution (ASIM), is an automated sales and inventory management system that enables a company track its inventory from ordering point to the point of distribution and sale. It can cork on Android phones, tablets, and personal computers.

During the event that ended on Wednesday evening, speakers called for the adoption of the use of technology in government operations.

“Use of ICT is part of the Jubilee manifesto and we will ensure that government operations become digital as much as possible,” Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala told the Standard.

“How we can harness the great potential and opportunities offered by ICT infrastructure, as well as solutions that contribute to higher economic growth and development and improved service delivery to our citizens,” Anne Waiguru, the  Cabinet Secretary, Ministry Of  Devolution And Planning,  said.