By Eddah Waithaka
Kenya reinforced its position as a leading innovation hub today as Konza Technopolis hosted the first-ever IPDAYS forum in Nairobi, bringing together startups, investors, and policymakers from Tunisia, Egypt, and Kenya to drive cross-border collaboration.
The IPDAYS Nairobi x Silicon Savannah Startup Fair 2026, which partners RedStart Tunisie, Seketak, Fie Labs, and GAK Advisory, marks a milestone in Kenya’s ambition to serve as a gateway for North African startups expanding into Sub-Saharan Africa.
The forum features matchmaking sessions, investor pitches, policy briefings, and training workshops, all designed to accelerate market entry and strengthen innovation partnerships across Africa.
“This occasion is more than a gathering; it is a statement of intent that Africa’s digital future will be built through collaboration, innovation, and partnerships,” says Konza Technopolis CEO John Paul Okwiri.
“Innovation must be protected, commercialized, financed and supported through skills development if Africa’s startup ecosystem is to thrive.”
A major highlight sees Konza Technopolis, RedStart Tunisie, and Seketak Solutions sign a landmark collaboration agreement, formalizing cooperation on startup exchange programs, joint acceleration initiatives, and ecosystem development.
“We return to Kenya to deepen collaboration, align roadmaps and create scalable pathways that support startup growth across borders,” notes Douja Gharbi, CEO of RedStart Tunisie.
The event arrives just a day after President William Ruto assented to the Technopolis Bill, 2024, establishing a legal framework for technopolises across Kenya.
That legislation will attract technology-driven enterprises, streamline governance, and further position Kenya as a regional innovation hub.
Discussions at the forum focus on market entry strategies, financing cross-border expansion, and policy alignment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to create a single African market for goods, services, and digital trade.
Konza Technopolis leverages Kenya’s strong digital infrastructure, progressive policy environment, and strategic location to support North African startups expanding into East Africa and beyond.
