Data scientist and PhD student Allan Kimaina is passionate about the potential of machine learning and statistical analysis. In his current role at Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies (AGGP), he has immersed himself in a diverse array of pioneering projects. One endeavour he spearheads involves evaluating an online gaming platform to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset and aspirations among high school students.
Allan Kimaina started out on his journey of data science by applying himself single-mindedly to his academic pursuits. His focus and determination paid off, and he earned top honours in both his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Kabarak University in Kenya and his master’s degree in Biostatistics with a concentration in Data Science from Brown University in the USA. He was pleased to also receive the Master of Science Thesis Award of Excellence in 2019.
He returned to Kenya, eager to make a difference while conducting research on universal health coverage. However, he was soon confronted by the painful conflict between abstract theoretical concepts and the harsh realities experienced by many Africans. “It motivated me to think of ways in which we can address the challenges Africans face, to look at the problems of unemployment and poverty, through interventions driven by data,” he says.
The experience fuelled his determination to employ data-driven interventions to tackle unemployment and poverty, which plays a big part in his work at the AGGP. Here, he focuses on the entrepreneurial mindset and aspiration, which is the mainstay of his PhD studies at the Allan Gray Centre for Africa Entrepreneurship (AGCAE).
Entrepreneurial activity is known to drive job creation and economic growth, both vital for development on the African continent. Contributing to the knowledge engine that can fuel entrepreneurial activity is the cornerstone of much of the work done by AGCAE. Kimaina was already familiar with much of their work, and this helped ground him in entrepreneurship as a phenomenon.
“When I joined Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies in 2021, It was my very first encounter with research into entrepreneurship. However, it didn’t take long for me to recognise the vast potential here and how data science could help to provide solutions.” He is involved in active collaborations to develop robust data strategies and insights that inform philanthropic initiatives. In addition, he has been working on predictive and inferential modelling, which is instrumental in driving evidence-based decision-making and shaping how an online gamified intervention (Wavumbuzi. Africa) can be effectively delivered.
“An entrepreneurial mindset is very hard to train,” reflects Kimaina. “The hypothesis of the programme is that taking a gamified approach will significantly enhance young people’s ability to cultivate this mindset.”
For his doctoral studies with the AGCAE at Stellenbosch University, Kimaina wants to look at whether Wavumbuzi has achieved this objective in East Africa. To this end, he will work through reams of data covering hundreds of thousands of learners who have played the game, which engenders entrepreneurial experience and mindset through industry-specific business quests.
His evaluation of the programme will be a first of its kind both in Rwanda and Kenya. When he comes to Stellenbosch in July 2024, it will be his first trip to South Africa. He is looking forward to meeting his colleagues and experiencing the local cuisines.
But the work will come first. He is keen to help the AGCAE answer some of the most pressing questions about entrepreneurship in developing contexts. In particular, he wants to find out how best to nurture the entrepreneurial talent the continent is so in dire need of. “I feel like the field of entrepreneurial talent in entrepreneurship in Africa is under-researched,” Kimaina says. “We face huge challenges with unemployment, and it would be wonderful if we could inspire more young people to build high-impact enterprises and, in that way, create more jobs for others.”
