About KijijiCoder
Empowering rural Kenya with tech awareness, one USSD session at a time.
How KijijiCoder Began
KijijiCoder was born from a simple observation: while mobile money and banking services were thriving in rural Kenya through USSD technology, tech education remained out of reach for millions. We asked ourselves: "If people can bank via USSD, why can't they learn via USSD?"
This question sparked our journey. We recognized that the digital divide wasn't just about internet access—it was about access to knowledge, skills, and opportunities. While urban youth had countless online coding bootcamps and tech courses, rural communities were left behind, creating an ever-widening gap in digital literacy.
Today, KijijiCoder is transforming how rural Kenya learns about technology. We've built a comprehensive USSD-based learning platform that works on any feature phone, requires no internet, and brings coding, digital literacy, and tech awareness directly to learners' fingertips.
What We Do
Our work goes beyond coding—we're building tech awareness and digital literacy across rural Kenya
Coding Education
We teach programming fundamentals through interactive USSD lessons. Learners discover variables, loops, functions, and problem-solving—all on their basic feature phones.
Tech Awareness
Beyond coding, we build digital literacy. Learners understand how technology works, what AI means, and how to stay safe online.
Community Building
We foster local tech communities. Through our hub model, learners come together, share knowledge, and support each other.
Career Pathways
We connect learners to opportunities. From remote work possibilities to digital entrepreneurship, we help rural youth see how tech skills can transform their economic prospects.
Meet Our Founder
Hellen Mati
Hellen Mati is a versatile Data Analyst and Data Engineer with a strong background in designing and optimizing cloud-based data solutions. Her expertise spans ETL pipelines, real-time analytics, and data visualization, leveraging tools like Microsoft Azure, Power BI, and Python to transform raw data into actionable insights.
With a proven track record in driving business decisions through analytics and innovation, Hellen is passionate about solving complex challenges, automating workflows, and mentoring aspiring data professionals. Drawing on her technical expertise, she conceived KijijiCoder as a solution that leverages familiar USSD technology to bring comprehensive tech education to rural communities.
Join Us in Making Rural Kenya Tech-Aware
Whether you're a potential partner, volunteer, or supporter, there's a place for you in our mission.