Kenya Brings GITEX to Nairobi as AI Investment Race Builds

Nairobi will host the first East African edition of GITEX next week as Kenya intensifies efforts to position itself as a regional centre for artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and digital policy coordination. The event, AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya, will run from May 19 to 21 and is expected to bring together technology firms, investors, government officials, startups and academic institutions from multiple markets.

The summit marks the entry of the Dubai-founded GITEX exhibition platform into East Africa after expansion into countries including Morocco, Nigeria, Germany, Singapore and Vietnam. Organisers say the Nairobi gathering will focus on AI systems, cybersecurity, agritech, sustainability, cloud computing and connected technologies.

The conference is being organised by KAOUN International in partnership with Kenya’s Office of the Special Envoy on Technology and technology ecosystem company dx⁵. Kenyan officials view the event as part of a broader push to attract technology investment while increasing Nairobi’s role in international digital policy discussions.

Government agencies and private firms have accelerated spending on digital infrastructure in recent years, including data centres, cloud services and AI-linked systems. Kenya is also positioning technology as a pillar of industrial policy under the Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

Information, Communications and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping economic planning, public service delivery and inclusion efforts.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei linked the summit to Kenya’s technology diplomacy strategy under Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025, which formally incorporated emerging technologies into the country’s foreign policy agenda.

According to Sing’oei, Nairobi is seeking a larger role in global discussions around AI regulation, data governance and digital infrastructure cooperation. He also tied the summit to preparations for the 2026 Global Data Festival, another international digital policy gathering expected to take place in Kenya.

Special Envoy on Technology Philip Thigo said the country wants to participate more directly in shaping international technology standards rather than remaining primarily a consumer market for imported systems.

Organisers estimate artificial intelligence could contribute $2.4 billion to Kenya’s economy by 2030 while generating more than 300,000 jobs by 2028. Those projections have intensified competition among African economies seeking investment in cloud infrastructure, AI research, digital services and data hosting capacity.

KAOUN International chief executive Trixie LohMirmand said Kenya’s digital sector has attracted international attention through locally developed technology platforms and expanding infrastructure capacity.

The Nairobi programme will include a one-day summit alongside a two-day exhibition covering six sectors tied to Kenya’s emerging digital economy: AI, agritech, cloud computing, cybersecurity, IoT and sustainability.

Dx⁵ chairman and co-founder Harry Hare said the conference is also expected to strengthen Kenya’s position in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry as African cities compete to host large-scale international technology events.

The summit comes as governments across Africa increase efforts to secure technology partnerships, digital infrastructure financing and AI investment amid growing global competition around data and computing capacity.

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