ASR Kenya

The Centre for Digital and Language Inclusion (CDLI) has finalised the second phase of its groundbreaking initiative to develop inclusive Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems for individuals with non-standard or impaired speech in African languages. This effort aims to close the digital divide for people with speech impairments and marks a major milestone following a successful pilot in Ghana.

ASR technology is revolutionizing communication for people with speech difficulties, but most existing solutions are designed for English speakers and fail to address the linguistic diversity of Africa. Limited access to assistive technology and speech therapy further compounds this challenge. CDLI’s project seeks to change that by collecting non-standard speech data in local languages and building culturally relevant ASR models tailored for Kenya.

This initiative co-funded by google.org is a part of the AT2030 Programme, led by UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub and its Centre for Digital Language Inclusion (CDLI) in collaboration with, Senses Hub, and Strathmore University’s iLabAfrica. Technical support has been provided by Modal, whose GPU sponsorship is powering the deevelopment of the ASR models.

The journey in Kenya began with a pre-innovation workshop at Strathmore University, bringing together 35 participants from academia, civil society, tech, and the disability community. The workshop featured technical deep dives, collaborative planning, and testimonies from individuals with lived experience of speech impairments.

Since then, data collection has successfully engaged 52 participants with speech impediments in Kenya, creating a valuable dataset to train and refine ASR models. All models, datasets, and tools will be released open source, ensuring long-term impact and enabling further innovation.

“We’re not just building technology  we’re building understanding. Inclusive ASR must reflect the voices and realities of those it’s meant to serve; only then will these technologies scale” Prof Cathy Holloway.

The innovation sprint will culminate in a showcase event on Friday, 21st November 2025 at Strathmore University. Innovators will present solutions designed to improve communication for people with speech impairments in Kenya and beyond. Participants will receive mentorship, training, and opportunities to win cash prizes, earn certifications, and publish or deploy their work.

During the session, there will be prizes for the best innovations of this sprint.