Huawei on Monday hosted Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at its exhibition booth during the official opening of the Connected Africa Summit 2026, held at The Edge Convention Centre.
The Deputy President was received by Zhai Haipeng alongside Huawei Kenya leadership, and taken through a guided showcase of the company’s latest innovations in connectivity, digital inclusion, digital power, and renewable energy solutions. The exhibition highlighted Huawei’s role in accelerating Africa’s digital transformation through advanced infrastructure and scalable technologies.
During the tour, Kindiki explored Huawei’s fibre connectivity solutions designed for rapid deployment and simplified maintenance, aimed at expanding broadband access across underserved regions. He was also introduced to the company’s latest Wi-Fi 7 router, which delivers ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity for homes, enterprises, and public institutions. Notably, the router features an internal battery capable of providing up to four hours of uninterrupted connectivity during power outages, an innovation tailored to address Africa’s infrastructure challenges.
Speaking during the Summit’s official opening, Kindiki emphasized Africa’s readiness to take control of its digital future. “Africa is ready to shape its own digital future. Africa is ready to build together. Africa is ready to move from conversation to execution, from pilots to pan-African reality,” he said.
He further stressed the need for deeper continental collaboration, noting that the next phase of Africa’s digital growth will depend on alignment, interoperability, and trust. “The next phase demands something bigger; alignment, interoperability, trust, and a true African digital market,” he added, calling for stronger partnerships between governments, private sector players, and innovators.
The Deputy President was accompanied by William Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, alongside other senior government officials participating in the Summit.
Organised by the ICT Authority of Kenya in partnership with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the four-day Summit has convened policymakers, innovators, development partners, and private sector leaders from across the continent. Key industry partners include Safaricom and Huawei.
Held under the theme “Uniting Africa’s Innovation for an Inclusive Digital Market,” the Summit focuses on accelerating measurable digital transformation through collaboration, policy alignment, and investment in enabling infrastructure.
The opening day featured high-level panel discussions addressing critical areas such as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and artificial intelligence. Sessions including Digital Public Infrastructure as Africa’s Engine for Inclusive Digital Transformation and AI for Africa: From Adoption to Global Leadership explored how emerging technologies can drive inclusion, economic growth, and cross-border integration.
Industry leaders echoed the urgency of moving from strategy to implementation. Jessy Maruti highlighted the need to overcome fragmentation, noting that Africa must build stronger continental connectivity, harmonised digital frameworks, and resilient infrastructure to enable seamless movement of data and services.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa emphasized that Africa’s digital economy is already taking shape, but remains constrained by fragmentation rather than capability. “A continental digital market already exists in practice, even if not yet fully reflected in policy. What is missing is alignment, not invention,” he said, urging regulators to prioritise interoperability and remove barriers to cross-border digital integration.
Reinforcing the importance of talent development, Huawei’s Zhai Haipeng noted that Africa’s digital transformation must be driven not only by technology but also by skilled human capital capable of building and sustaining innovation ecosystems.
The 2026 edition of the Summit has attracted delegations from at least 14 African countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Angola, among others.
Huawei stated that its participation reflects its long-term commitment to supporting Africa’s digital transformation through resilient connectivity, inclusive innovation, and strategic partnerships that advance sustainable economic growth.
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