Africa’s Digital Leaders to Convene in Nairobi for Connected Africa Summit 2026
Africa’s top policymakers, technology executives, and innovators will gather in Nairobi later this month for the Connected Africa Summit 2026, billed as the continent’s most senior digital economy gathering of the year.
Organised by the ICT Authority of Kenya, the four-day summit runs from April 27 to April 30 at The Edge Convention Centre, opening daily at 8:00 AM East Africa Time. This year’s edition is themed “Uniting Africa’s Innovation for an Inclusive Digital Market.”
Artificial Intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure, and cybersecurity will headline the agenda, alongside discussions on digital identity, fintech, connectivity, cloud computing, data governance, and smart infrastructure.
Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, framed the summit as a turning point. “This year, delivery has to become measurable,” he said at a pre-summit press briefing at Serena Hotel Nairobi, noting that the 2026 theme builds directly on the two preceding editions, 2024’s focus on unlocking growth beyond connectivity, and 2025’s push from vision to reality.
ICT Authority CEO Jessy Maruti highlighted the scale of the gathering, noting that last year’s edition attracted more than 1,500 delegates from over 30 countries, with 165 speakers and 40 sponsor partners. He added that Africa’s digital ambitions demand a shift from fragmented systems to integrated, borderless infrastructure. “We must build stronger continental connectivity, harmonised digital frameworks, and resilient infrastructure that allows data, services, and innovation to move seamlessly across borders,” he said.
A landmark outcome expected from this year’s summit is the launch of the Connected Africa Secretariat, which Kenya will chair. The body is intended to drive long-term accountability and continuity in efforts to build a unified digital continent.
Ministerial delegations are confirmed from Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Gabon, Guinea, Chad, and Zimbabwe, with additional African states expected to attend.
Key industry players are lending their weight to the event. Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Frankline Okata, described the summit as a demonstration of what public-private cooperation can achieve in accelerating national digitisation. Huawei Technologies Kenya’s Policy and Partnerships Lead, Adam Lane, announced the company’s participation with a focus on connectivity and talent development, including support for universities, TVET institutions, and initiatives like the Huawei ICT Competition.
MIDIS Group, in partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, operated by Selectium, will also partner with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy at the event, reinforcing their commitment to scalable digital solutions across the continent.
With Africa’s digital transformation gaining momentum across sectors, the Connected Africa Summit 2026 positions itself as the platform where continental strategy must convert into measurable action.
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