Reimagining ethical tech and computing education, with plants, puzzles, and travel along the way.

Holding up the ladder means having the consistency, courage, and teachability to keep spreading your wings, so that others can, too.

Profile

I design programs that put people, not just technology, at the center of computing education. My work blends thoughtful teaching with a deep care for how humans learn, build, and belong in tech. I help students and professionals grow into creative and collaborative technologists for themselves, their communities, and a more just world.

As Founder of  KamiLimu, I lead the co-creation and implementation of a structured upskilling model that complements classroom learning with holistic skills for Kenyan tech students and early-career technologists. 

At the Mozilla Foundation, I lead Responsible Computing efforts in Kenya, equipping educators and innovators to reimagine technology through an ethical innovation lens.

In November 2025, I was appointed to join the Executive Board of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), representing the Africa region, where I contribute to advancing gender equity and inclusion in global STEM leadership.

Beyond work, I am happiest when I find joy in both the little and big things, spending time with those I care about, solving puzzles, nurturing plants, getting lost in film and books, and traveling. I am also reigniting my love for cycling, a skill I only learned at the ripe old age of 21.

Contributing to:

  • Across every role I have held, from shaping Africa’s CSW67 policy paper with UN Women to building gender-balanced upskilling models through KamiLimu, I have championed equity as a design principle. My work advances inclusive participation in technology and ensures that women’s voices shape digital transformation, and now extends to the global stage through my appointment to the Executive Board of OWSD (Africa region).

  • Through KamiLimu’s out-of-classroom upskilling model, I co-create pathways that blend technical growth with human skills and values-driven innovation, grounded in community, curiosity, and play.

    Impact: Nurtured employability, grown responsible innovators, and enhanced learning outcomes for 308+ mentees across 9 cohorts, supported by 200+ industry professionals and 35+ organizations.

  • At Mozilla Foundation, I lead efforts in Kenya to embed responsible computing in university curricula and extend the framework beyond the classroom to tech innovators.

    Impact: Since 2023, I have supported 20+ faculty members to co-create and teach computing curricula across 8 Kenyan universities, reaching 2,000+ students, backed by over KES 50M+ partner funding.

  • I contribute to the field of computing education and human-centered computing through peer-reviewed papers, articles, and experience reports.

    Impact: Authored 15+ research works advancing experiential pedagogy, responsible and human-centered computing in Kenya and Africa.

    See more in Publications.

Dr. Chao Mbogho giving a talk on Responsible Computing Practise
Chao Mbogho Mbogo givine a Ted talk

Globalized as:

  • I share my work globally through lectures, talks, and teaching that connect computing, responsible innovation, and education to diverse audiences.

    Impact: From reaching tens of thousands of online learners through Coursera to delivering lectures at Harvard, MIT, and other global stages, my talks amplify African perspectives in computing education and responsible innovation.

    See more in Speaking.

  • I advance gender equity in science and technology through policy influence, mentorship, and institutional design.

    Impact: From co-authoring Africa’s CSW67 policy paper with UN Women on the landscape of gender and tech in Africa, to ensuring a 50-50 gender parity in KamiLimu’s upskilling model, to serving on the Executive Board of OWSD (Africa region), I work to make equity a design principle in every space where knowledge and innovation meet.

  • I bring a holistic lens to computing by weaving together research, education, and public engagement.

    Impact: From nurturing science communication and resource mobilization as a 2025 Grant Writing Fellow at the Leader of Africa Institute, to amplifying inclusive and ethical pathways in technology through my 2021 TEDx Talk, “Holding up the Ladder”, my work advances computing that is both human-centered and globally relevant.

    See more in Distinctions.

  • I lead with a commitment to inclusion, mentorship, and reimagining pathways in technology.

    Impact: From receiving the 2025 DIAR Eminent Persons Award for advancing diversity and inclusion in Africa’s tech ecosystem to being profiled by Oxford University News in 2020 as a pathbreaker in holistic tech education, my leadership has been recognized both locally and globally.

    See more in Distinctions.

TEDx Parklands talk by Dr. Chao Mbogho on mentorship and innovation in computing

Nurtured at:

  • PhD in Computer Science | Thesis: Scaffolding Java Programming on a Mobile Phone | Passed with highly-rated examiners’ results and no corrections, reflecting originality and rigor in research.

  • St. Catherine’s College | MSc Computer Science | Gained advanced training in computing theory and practice, strengthening a global outlook on computing.

  • BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science | First Class Honors | Laid a strong foundation in problem-solving, analytical thinking, and computing.

Dr Chao Mbogho at University of Cape Town graduation ceremony