By Eddah Waithaka
Konza Technopolis welcomed more than 200 leaders from the technology, creative, academic, government, and non-government sectors to the inaugural Thrive, Elevate & Celebrate (TEC) Women Summit 2026, rallying a powerful call to place women at the heart of Kenya’s digital future.
Under its Silicon Savannah Woman program, Konza Technopolis hosted the landmark gathering themed “Accelerating Women’s Participation and Leadership in Kenya’s Digital and Creative Future.”
The event, held in partnership with EdSource through its InnovateHer initiative, brought together a formidable coalition of changemakers dedicated to inclusive digital transformation.
Sponsors Microsoft and the International Labour Organization (ILO) reinforced the summit’s mission.Chief Guest Mary N. Kerema, OGW, Secretary for ICT, E-Government and Digital Economy, delivered a decisive challenge to the room.
“The future of our digital economy will not be defined by how fast we connect systems, but by how deliberately we include the women and the youth,” Kerema said.
“And in that future, women must not be on the margins of technology, they must be at the center of designing it, leading it, and transforming it.”
Microsoft turned commitment into action with the launch of the AI Skills 4 Women programme—a free, online training initiative that equips women with practical expertise in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, and responsible AI use, alongside mentorship and leadership development.
Winnie Karanu, Microsoft’s National AI Skills Director, framed the initiative as a response to a shifting industrial reality.“We talk so much about AI, but what is it really? What does it do? The truth is, every single company is becoming a tech company,” Karanu stated.
“Any industry, every organization will rely on AI. History will be written by all of us through our actions and our ethics because the future is in our hands.”
The launch arrives at a critical juncture as Kenya accelerates its digital transformation agenda, with demand for AI-related skills surging across every sector.
Summit stakeholders emphasized that leaving women out of this rapidly evolving landscape would compromise both sustainability and innovation.
Throughout the day, plenaries and discussions tackled the most urgent issues shaping Kenya’s digital and creative economy.
Sessions explored aligning national digital and AI strategies with gender-smart outcomes, designing inclusive smart cities under the “Her City” concept, building an AI talent pipeline to drive employability, advancing digital rights and online safety, financing women-led ventures in technology and creative industries, and harnessing innovation within Kenya’s creative sector.
In a defining moment, participants adopted the TEC Summit Declaration, a multi-stakeholder commitment outlining ten priority actions to strengthen women’s leadership and participation in the digital economy.
Key actions include expanding equitable participation, building an inclusive AI talent pipeline, unlocking financing for women-led digital and creative enterprises, advancing gender-responsive digital policies, and establishing the Kenya Gender, Inclusion & Digital Transformation Observatory. The declaration anchors a unified push for accountability and sustained action.
John Paul Okwiri, speaking on behalf of Konza Technopolis, underscored the institution’s own commitment to structural inclusion.“If we are serious about building a future-ready digital economy, then inclusion cannot be optional,” Okwiri said.
“Women must not only participate in the AI revolution, they must lead it. At Konza Technopolis, we are intentionally creating an ecosystem where women have equal access to opportunities, leadership, and innovation in shaping Africa’s Silicon Savannah.”
He noted that Konza Technopolis has already met and exceeded the constitutional two-thirds gender rule, with women holding significant leadership positions across its Board and senior management, and challenged other institutions to adopt similar approaches.
The summit convened in partnership with key institutions including the Kenya Film Commission and the National Gender and Equality Commission, a collaboration that reflects the depth of cross-sector resolve to drive inclusive digital transformation across Kenya and beyond.
