CFAO Mobility Kenya has crowned winners of the 19th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest after Kenya recorded its highest-ever participation in the competition’s history.
A total of 2,153 entries were submitted by children aged 15 years and below, making this year’s edition the largest since the contest was launched locally. The award ceremony was held at the company’s head office on Uhuru Highway in Nairobi.
The annual competition challenges children to imagine and draw their dream car of the future, encouraging creativity while inspiring young minds to think about innovation, sustainability, and mobility.
Young Artists Shine Across Three Categories
Winners were selected across three age categories by an expert panel of judges, with participants showcasing imaginative interpretations of futuristic mobility.
In Category 1 (7 years and below), Joyrene Nduta Ngugi emerged the winner with her artwork My Happy Rainbow Car, praised for its joyful and imaginative depiction of future transport.
Category 2 (8–11 years) was won by Shreyasi Mishra for The Flying Earth Guardian, a design blending environmental conservation themes with futuristic technology.
Kenya records 2,153 entries in Toyota Dream Contest
In Category 3 (12–15 years), Mel Athiang Bol took top honors with The Golden Egret, an artwork commended for its conceptual depth and strong visual execution.
Leadership Applauds Youth Creativity
Speaking during the ceremony, CFAO Mobility Kenya Deputy Managing Director Joshua Anya attributed the record-breaking entries to a growing appetite for creative expression among Kenyan children.
“Two thousand one hundred and fifty-three children sat down and chose to imagine a better world. These children are not just drawing cars but telling us what they believe the future should look like, and we at CFAO Mobility Kenya are listening,” he said.
Toyota Brand Ambassador Ferdinand Omanyala, who presented special awards, said the contest resonates with the journey of discovering talent at a young age.
“I know what it feels like to find the thing you were born to do. For some of these children, art is that thing. Platforms like this one can be the moment that changes everything for a young person. I am proud to be part of it,” Omanyala said.
Special Awards Recognize Outstanding Talent
The contest also featured several special awards recognizing unique achievements.
The Youngest Participant Award went to four-year-old Hailey Lovi Njenga for her artwork Rainbow Car.
The Waku Doki Award, presented to the most emotive entry, was awarded to Raveena Kaur Matharu of Premier Academy for My Floral Eco Car. Premier Academy also received the School with the Most Entries Award.
The Teachers Award for Most Creative Artwork went to The Bridge Junior Elementary for the entry Dawn of Her Freedom.
Schools Dominate Across Categories
In Category 1, Premier Academy secured first and third positions, while Strathmore School finished second.
Category 2 saw Arya Vedic Academy clinch first place, followed by Premier Academy in second and Brookhouse Schools in third.
Brookhouse Schools dominated Category 3, taking first and third positions, with The Bridge Junior Elementary finishing second.
Winning schools were presented with dummy cheques during the ceremony, with financial awards set to follow.
A Global Platform for Young Innovators
The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is a global initiative by Toyota Motor Corporation, inviting children worldwide to envision the future of mobility through art.
Now in its 19th year in Kenya, the competition has grown into one of the country’s most anticipated youth engagement programs. Winning entries from Kenya will advance to the global competition, where finalists compete for international recognition and prizes.