GDG on Campus in Kenya: what it is, which universities have chapters and how to join

GDG on Campus, formerly called Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC), is a programme run by Google for university students interested in technology. Each chapter is led by a student appointed by Google, called a GDG on Campus Lead.

The programme is free to join. You do not need to be a computer science student. Chapters include members studying business, design, engineering, and other fields.

What a chapter typically does:

• Weekly or bi-weekly workshops on Google technologies like Android, Flutter, Firebase, and Google Cloud
• Study jams where members work through Google-provided learning paths together
• Solution challenges where teams build projects that address local community problems
• Speaker events with industry professionals and Google Developer Experts

The value is not the Google brand on your CV. It is the people you build with and the projects you ship before graduation.

Kenya has one of the highest concentrations of GDG on Campus chapters in Africa. As of 2026, active chapters exist at:

• University of Nairobi (UoN)
• Jomo Kenyatta University (JKUAT) to Main and Karen campuses
• Kenyatta University (KU)
• Strathmore University
• Dedan Kimathi University (DEKUT)
• Moi University
• Kabarak University
• Maseno University
• Technical University of Kenya (TUK)
• Multimedia University of Kenya
• Kirinyaga University
• Murang'a University of Technology

Chapters launch and go dormant depending on leadership. A university might have had a chapter last year but not this year if the lead graduated and nobody replaced them. Check the official GDG directory for current status.

Step 1: Go to the GDG on Campus directory on the Google Developers website and search for your university.

Step 2: If your university has a chapter, the page will show the lead and upcoming events. Click join or RSVP to the next event.

Step 3: Show up. Most chapters have a WhatsApp or Telegram group for members. Ask the lead or any member for the link at your first event.

There is no application form or interview to become a member. You just participate. The more workshops and projects you attend, the more you get out of it.

If you want to take on a bigger role, chapters often need volunteers for organising events, managing social media, and leading study groups. Tell the lead you want to help.

If your university does not have a chapter, you can apply to start one. Google opens applications for GDG on Campus Leads once a year, usually between April and July.

To apply as a lead, you need to:

• Be a currently enrolled university student
• Have at least one year of university remaining
• Show interest in technology (you do not need to be an expert)
• Be willing to organise events and build a community

The application is online and includes a short video or written response explaining why you want to lead a chapter. Google reviews applications and selects leads based on passion and leadership potential, not coding ability.

If accepted, Google gives you a starter kit: event budgets, learning resources, access to Google Cloud credits for your chapter, and a network of other leads across Africa. You also get mentorship from Google Developer Experts and Google employees.

Starting a chapter from scratch is work, but it is the kind of work that builds your portfolio, your network, and your leadership skills faster than most things you can do in university. Check how to start a tech club for practical tips on building a community from zero.

The honest answer depends on how much you put in.

If you just join the WhatsApp group and attend one event, you get nothing meaningful. If you participate regularly, build projects during solution challenges, and connect with other members, you get:

• Technical skills: hands-on workshops on real tools that companies use
• A project portfolio: solution challenge projects are real applications that solve real problems. They look better on your CV than coursework assignments.
• A network: other GDG on Campus members become your professional network after graduation. Many Kenyan tech companies have employees who were active in these chapters.
• Google swag and certifications: not the main draw, but free Cloud Skills Boost credits and Google certifications are useful additions.
• Conference access: active members often get invites to Google DevFest, I/O Extended, and other events.

The biggest benefit is accountability. When you are part of a group that meets regularly to learn and build, you make progress. When you are learning alone in your room, it is easy to quit after a week.