A Kenyan start-up is developing robotic technology designed to help deaf children access education through real-time sign language.
ZeroBionic has built a mechanical hand that can translate a teacher’s speech into sign language, allowing deaf pupils to follow lessons alongside hearing students.
The technology is being trialled at Kasarani Treeside Secondary School for the Deaf in Nairobi.
The start-up was co-founded by 22-year-old Norah Kimathi, who says developing the technology has involved creating a sign-language dataset from scratch.
According to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, about 300,000 children in Kenya have a hearing impairment. However, only 20,000 were enrolled in schools as of 2024.
The robotic arms are also being used by deaf teachers to record and store signs through a specialised bodysuit.
The process is helping ZeroBionic build a database of technical terms using English, American and Kenyan signs.
Kimathi said Kenya lacks a standardised African sign-language dataset, making the development process particularly challenging.
Many deaf children use a mixture of informal signs, while local sign language lacks technical terms for subjects such as mathematics and biology.
Pupil Sharon Mumbe, 19, said the technology gives her “hope for the future” and could help her understand different concepts.
ZeroBionic builds its prototypes using recycled materials and 3D printers. Each robotic hand costs about $350 and can last up to two years.
The technology is currently being used in 78 schools across Kenya, with a reported speech-to-sign accuracy rate of 92 percent.
