In Nairobi, a tech startup is using artificial intelligence and motion-captured avatars to bridge the communication gap for Kenya’s deaf community. Signvrse’s platform, Terp 360, is the country’s first AI-driven tool to translate spoken and written words into Kenyan Sign Language (KSL).
Founded in 2023 and recently awarded the Kenya Presidential Innovation Award, Signvrse records real interpreters’ gestures using motion capture technology, tracking body movement, hand rotations, and facial expressions to create lifelike avatars.
“We like to call it Google Translate for sign language,” said Elly Savatia, 24, the company’s founder. “It interprets text and speech, then outputs natural avatars that sign just like a human — but at scale.”
Breaking barriers
For many deaf Kenyans, communication obstacles persist in workplaces, hospitals, and public services. Nairobi waiter Kelvin Munene said the app could help solve those problems, though he hopes it will eventually translate Swahili as well as English.
Room for improvement
Leakey Nyabaro, founder of Galaxy Sign Language Training Centre, said the app still makes errors and currently benefits hearing users more than deaf users, especially in sign-to-voice mode.
Looking ahead
Terp 360 has 2,000 users on its web app, and Signvrse plans to launch a mobile version by December 2025, with a subscription service for personal and business use.
For Kenya’s deaf community, this could be a step toward seamless communication – one sign at a time.
