THE INAUGURAL EAST AFRICAN MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD
On February 20, 2023, the first East African Mathematical Olympiad was held online with participation from seven countries: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. The event was coordinated from Rwanda via Zoom and sponsored by the Global Talent Network based at Bristol University.
The Kenyan team was hosted by the Department of Mathematics at the University of Nairobi. Prof. Stephen Luketero, the Chairman of the Department of Mathematics. received the team.
The contest featured a series of challenging math problems designed to test the student's problem-solving skills and mathematical knowledge. The problems ranged from algebraic equations to geometry and required the students to think creatively and logically to solve them.
The Kenyan team was represented by seven students, namely, Duncan Kiprotich (Nairobi School), Paul Maina (Nakuru High School), Tony Odhiambo (Light Academy), Naomi Masayi (Alliance Girls High School), Erika Oduor (Kianda School), and Ivy Cherono (Kipsigis Girls High School). Dr James Katende from the Department of Mathematics at the University of Nairobi was the team leader. Erika Oduor from Kianda School was the top student overall, scoring 34 out of 35 marks(one point shy of a perfect score.) and receiving a gold medal. The rest of the team members received bronze medals, except for Duncan Kiprotich who received a silver medal.
The Kenyan team was selected from the third round of the Kenya Mathematical Olympiad, which was organized by the Department of Mathematics The Olympiad was held on February 18, and the top-performing students were chosen to represent Kenya in the East African Mathematical Olympiad. (EAMO).
The Department of Mathematics will host the next East African Mathematical Olympiad in 2024 as a physical event with all participating countries coming to Nairobi. The Department of Mathematics will coordinate the event
These mathematical contests play a significant role in identifying talent early, stimulating interest in mathematics and STEM subjects, and nurturing analytical and problem-solving skills that may not be captured in routine curriculum questions. The Kenyan team is currently training to participate in the Pan African Mathematical Olympiad,(PAMO) which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from May 13 to May 22, 2023. The training is facilitated by the Department of Mathematics and led by Dr James Katende.
The next Kenya Mathematical Olympiad (KMO) will be in partnership with CEMASTEA and the Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing based at the University of Waterloo in Canada. The KMO will target at least 8000 participants nationwide and will be used to select the Kenyan teams for the East African Mathematical Olympiad, the Pan African Mathematical Olympiad, and the International Mathematical Olympiad.
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