Abdirahman Kahin

Somali tech innovator creating AI solutions for drought prediction in Africa

Abdirahman Kahin (b. 1990) is the visionary behind AfricaWeatherAI, a Nairobi-based tech startup using artificial intelligence to predict drought conditions months in advance. His system analyzes satellite data, soil moisture patterns, and livestock movement to provide free alerts to 2 million farmers across the Horn of Africa since 2018. This early warning system has reduced crop failures by 40% in pilot regions, according to a WFP report.

Kahin's open-source platform was developed during MIT's Climate Hackathon (2017), where it won $200,000 in seed funding. His team's solar-powered sensors now form the backbone of Kenya's national drought monitoring network. The Guardian named him a 'Climate Pioneer' in 2021 for linking tech innovation to food security.

Born in a nomadic family in southern Somalia, Kahin built his first computer at age 14 from discarded parts in Mogadishu markets. His memoir Code of the Desert (2022) details his journey from refugee camp to MIT classrooms. The UN Development Programme partnered with his startup in 2023 to expand operations to Mali and Sudan. Kahin's TED Talk 'Programming the Rain' has become required viewing for African tech entrepreneurs.