Co-founder and Robotics engineer Norah Kimathi (L) holds robotic arms as she engages with students at the Kasarani TreeSide Secondary School for the Deaf, in Nairobi on September 4, 2026. Roughly 300,000 children in the east African nation have some kind of hearing impairment, according to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, who said in 2024 just 20,000 are enrolled in schools. Kenyan start-up Zerobionic, co-founded by 22-year-old Norah Kimathi three years ago, is trying to tackle that issue. Their futuristic arms can manually sign spoken instructions, vital in mixed classrooms where deaf students are often left behind, and can be paired with a bodysuit that records deaf teachers' movements for a STEM-specific sign database. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP via Getty Images)

Students from Kasarani TreeSide Secondary School for the Deaf, react during an interactive session with "Zerobionic Africa" team in Nairobi on September 4, 2026. Roughly 300,000 children in the east African nation have some kind of hearing impairment, according to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, who said in 2024 just 20,000 are enrolled in schools. Kenyan start-up Zerobionic, co-founded by 22-year-old Norah Kimathi three years ago, is trying to tackle that issue. Their futuristic arms can manually sign spoken instructions, vital in mixed classrooms where deaf students are often left behind, and can be paired with a bodysuit that records deaf teachers' movements for a STEM-specific sign database. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP via Getty Images)

Co-founder and Robotics engineer Norah Kimathi, holds a robotic arm next to Africans first Humanoid robot at their workshop at the Zerobionic in Nairobi on August 19, 2026. Roughly 300,000 children in the east African nation have some kind of hearing impairment, according to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, who said in 2024 just 20,000 are enrolled in schools. Kenyan start-up Zerobionic, co-founded by 22-year-old Norah Kimathi three years ago, is trying to tackle that issue. Their futuristic arms can manually sign spoken instructions, vital in mixed classrooms where deaf students are often left behind, and can be paired with a bodysuit that records deaf teachers' movements for a STEM-specific sign database. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP via Getty Images)

Co-founder and Robotics engineer Norah Kimathi (L) and Darell Adero technical lead and CAD engineer, programs Africans first Humanoid robot in their workshop at the Zerobionic in Nairobi on August 19, 2026. Roughly 300,000 children in the east African nation have some kind of hearing impairment, according to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, who said in 2024 just 20,000 are enrolled in schools. Kenyan start-up Zerobionic, co-founded by 22-year-old Norah Kimathi three years ago, is trying to tackle that issue. Their futuristic arms can manually sign spoken instructions, vital in mixed classrooms where deaf students are often left behind, and can be paired with a bodysuit that records deaf teachers' movements for a STEM-specific sign database. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP via Getty Images)

Robotic engineer Ben Kamau (L) wearing a motion capture suit, is assisted by Darell Adero technical lead and CAD engineer, as they demonstrates how its used, in their workshop at Zerobionic in Nairobi on August 19, 2026. Roughly 300,000 children in the east African nation have some kind of hearing impairment, according to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, who said in 2024 just 20,000 are enrolled in schools. Kenyan start-up Zerobionic, co-founded by 22-year-old Norah Kimathi three years ago, is trying to tackle that issue. Their futuristic arms can manually sign spoken instructions, vital in mixed classrooms where deaf students are often left behind, and can be paired with a bodysuit that records deaf teachers' movements for a STEM-specific sign database. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP via Getty Images)

Lucy Wanjiru demonstrates the the function of a motion capture suit at the Kasarani TreeSide Secondary School for the Deaf, in Nairobi on September 4, 2026. Roughly 300,000 children in the east African nation have some kind of hearing impairment, according to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, who said in 2024 just 20,000 are enrolled in schools. Kenyan start-up Zerobionic, co-founded by 22-year-old Norah Kimathi three years ago, is trying to tackle that issue. Their futuristic arms can manually sign spoken instructions, vital in mixed classrooms where deaf students are often left behind, and can be paired with a bodysuit that records deaf teachers' movements for a STEM-specific sign database. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP via Getty Images)

Co-founder and Robotics engineer Norah Kimathi (L) holds a robotic arm as she engages with students at the Kasarani TreeSide Secondary School for the Deaf, in Nairobi on September 4, 2026. Roughly 300,000 children in the east African nation have some kind of hearing impairment, according to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, who said in 2024 just 20,000 are enrolled in schools. Kenyan start-up Zerobionic, co-founded by 22-year-old Norah Kimathi three years ago, is trying to tackle that issue. Their futuristic arms can manually sign spoken instructions, vital in mixed classrooms where deaf students are often left behind, and can be paired with a bodysuit that records deaf teachers' movements for a STEM-specific sign database. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP via Getty Images)

Students from Kasarani TreeSide Secondary School for the Deaf, communicate in sign language during an interactive session with "Zerobionic Africa" team in Nairobi on September 4, 2026. Roughly 300,000 children in the east African nation have some kind of hearing impairment, according to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children, who said in 2024 just 20,000 are enrolled in schools. Kenyan start-up Zerobionic, co-founded by 22-year-old Norah Kimathi three years ago, is trying to tackle that issue. Their futuristic arms can manually sign spoken instructions, vital in mixed classrooms where deaf students are often left behind, and can be paired with a bodysuit that records deaf teachers' movements for a STEM-specific sign database. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP via Getty Images)