Exhibitors To Be Judged Digitally For First Time At Nakuru ASK Show

By Suleiman Mbatiah

For the first time, the Nakuru National ASK Show will deploy digital technology to assess and judge exhibitors, marking a major shift aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, accuracy, and real-time evaluation.

The new system, set to debut during this year’s exhibition, will see judges use a specially developed mobile application to score exhibitors, replacing processes that have traditionally attracted complaints and disputes.

Officials from the Agricultural Society of Kenya’s Nakuru branch say the move is intended to streamline evaluations while ensuring every exhibitor receives equal consideration during the judging exercise across various competition categories.

“We have put some very clear measures that during the judging, because this is something that has been always in and out. Been bringing a lot of problems to the exhibitors. Some say they have not been judged,” said Nakuru ASK vice chairman Peter Muiruri.

Muiruri noted that concerns over missed assessments and delayed results have featured prominently in previous editions of the annual agricultural exhibition, prompting organizers to explore technology-driven solutions for improved accountability.

Under the new approach, trained judges will carry out assessments using smartphones, enabling scores and observations to be captured instantly and transmitted through a centralized digital platform during the exercise.

He revealed that all officials selected for the task have undergone specialized training to familiarize themselves with the application and standardize assessment procedures before the exhibition opens to the public.

The adoption of digital judging mirrors broader trends across exhibition and event management sectors globally, where technology is increasingly being used to improve record keeping, transparency and operational efficiency.

“So, the moment one goes to the stand, they just do as it has been done and has been said. Because already we have outlined how the judging will go,” Muiruri said, describing the initiative as a significant step towards modernizing exhibitor assessments and improving accountability.

According to organizers, the platform has been structured to guide judges through predetermined criteria, helping reduce inconsistencies and ensuring exhibitors are evaluated against uniform standards throughout the showgrounds.

To strengthen oversight, the branch will also establish a dedicated call centre where exhibitors can report concerns if they believe their stands have not been assessed within the stipulated judging period.

The call centre is expected to provide a direct communication channel between participants and organizers, allowing cases requiring intervention to be addressed promptly before final results are compiled and released.

Globally, digital assessment systems are increasingly being adopted in agricultural fairs and trade exhibitions because they reduce paperwork, minimize human error and allow faster consolidation of results from multiple judging teams.

“We are establishing a call centre that anybody who is not judged within the time, he is able to call that call centre and we are able to take his case and the judging is judged accordingly within the time. So that we get the result effectively and efficiently,” Muiruri said.

Branch chairman Dr Perminas Migwi expressed confidence that the reforms will enhance exhibitors’ trust in the judging process while delivering accurate results more quickly, as preparations enter the final stages ahead of the Nakuru National ASK Show.

With one month remaining before the event, more than 115 local and international exhibitors have confirmed participation. The show will run from July 1 to July 5, with organizers projecting one of the highest attendances in recent years.