In the realm of technology, dreams aren’t just conceptualised but coded into reality. Nguru Bretton’s journey from Kenya’s start-up scene to London’s tech stage is a testament to his ambition and passion.

Inspired by Safaricom’s George Njuguna, Nguru’s path unfolded with unexpected twists, but through perseverance he went on to win the Safaricom AWS DeepRacer competition and a coveted trip to London.

Picture the scene: January 2023, a pivotal moment in Nguru’s life. Plagued by financial uncertainty and yearning for professional growth, he stumbled upon a podcast featuring George Njuguna, Chief Information Officer of Safaricom PLC.

George’s vision and dedication to revolutionising Kenya’s tech scene resonated deeply with Nguru. As he listened to George expound on skill-centric growth and performance-based pay increments, Nguru couldn’t help thinking, “I need to work for this guy!”

In February a job link, sent by a friend from Techsavanna, a contractor for Safaricom, appeared in Nguru’s inbox. Seizing the opportunity, he navigated the job interview process with finesse, and by March, Nguru found himself welcomed into the Safaricom family. 

Little did Nguru know that this move would thrust him into the heart of a groundbreaking project – the creation of a Digital Twin AI system. The subject? None other than George Njuguna himself. Immersed in the world of generative AI, Nguru dedicated his Fridays and Saturdays to crafting the Digital Twin platform.

The culmination of Nguru and his partners’ efforts was unveiled at Safaricom’s Decode 2.0 event, where an AI replica of George Njuguna took centre stage, capturing the audience’s imagination and earning the team a trip to London.

For Nguru, the opportunity to visit London also held a deeper significance – his grandfather had travelled to the city in 1975, becoming the first Kenyan to do so through a scholarship. Upon hearing the good news, his grandfather sensed this was a case of fate weaving its threads across generations.

As Nguru reflects on his journey, he acknowledges the pivotal role George’s Spice FM interview played in shaping his career trajectory. Without that moment of inspiration, he might have remained entrenched in the start-up realm, missing out on the chance to be part of something truly transformative.

Today, beyond his tech achievements lies Nguru’s desire to secure his first passport – a symbolic key to unlocking a world of opportunities. At the same time, he is on a mission to solidify his position as a full-time employee of Safaricom PLC, the company that helped guide him through uncharted territory.