By Eddah Waithaka
Africa’s leading policymakers, innovators, and technology leaders will converge on Nairobi from April 27 to April 30, 2026, for the Connected Africa Summit 2026 at The Edge Convention Centre.
The ICT Authority of Kenya organizes the four-day summit, which runs daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (East Africa Time). The event promises to stand out as the continent’s most senior digital economy gathering this year.
“Delivery has to become measurable,” William Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, told a press briefing at Serena Hotel.
This year’s theme, “Uniting Africa’s Innovation for an Inclusive Digital Market,” builds directly on the 2024 focus—“Shaping the Future of a Connected Africa: Unlocking Growth Beyond Connectivity”—and the 2025 edition, “The Digital Journey: Vision to Reality.”
The 2026 summit shifts firmly toward measurable delivery and sustained action.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and cybersecurity headline the discussions. These topics reflect Africa’s urgent priorities for building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital economies. Additional agenda items include digital identity, fintech, connectivity, smart infrastructure, cloud, data governance, and innovation ecosystems.
The summit convenes leaders from government, the private sector, academia, and development organisations. It aims to foster partnerships that move beyond dialogue into implementation.
The focus hones in on aligning investments, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and accelerating Africa’s journey toward a digitally empowered, inclusive, and globally competitive economy.
“The global digital economy presents immense opportunity for our youth,” said Jessy Maruti, ICT Authority CEO, during the launch. “Our focus is to unify innovation across Africa so that young people can access skills, investments and markets that enable them to create enterprises, secure jobs and participate meaningfully in the digital age.”
Maruti added context, “The Connected Africa Summit is the most senior digital economy gathering the continent will convene this year. For context, the 2025 edition drew more than 1,500 delegates from over 30 countries, with 165 speakers and 40 sponsor partners. This year will build on that footprint.”
“Africa cannot fully unlock its digital potential while operating in fragmented systems,” Maruti continued. “We must build stronger continental connectivity, harmonised digital frameworks and resilient infrastructure that allows data, services and innovation to move seamlessly across borders.”
A major milestone at this year’s summit will be the launch of the Connected Africa Secretariat, which Kenya will chair. The Secretariat will drive continuity, accountability, and long-term collaboration toward a unified, innovative, sustainable, and futuristic digital continent.
“Across Africa, the conversation is shifting from ideas to execution, from pilots to scale, and from isolated systems to integrated digital ecosystems that create measurable impact,” said Frankline Okata, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Safaricom, during the launch.
“Our collaboration with ICT Authority demonstrates what is possible when public and private sector players work together to accelerate national digitisation and deliver better outcomes for citizens.”
Adam Lane, Policy and Partnerships Lead at Huawei Technologies Kenya, echoed these sentiments while announcing Huawei’s participation and support.
“Africa’s digital transformation must be powered not only by technology, but by skilled people who can build, manage and innovate with it. That is why talent development is a major focus for Huawei at this year’s Summit.”
He added, “We remain committed to supporting universities, TVET institutions and professional training programmes, while initiatives such as the Huawei ICT Competition continue to nurture the next generation of digital leaders for Kenya and the wider continent.”
The summit features an influential assemblage of government leaders, policymakers, ambassadors, and technology innovators. Cabinet ministers, regulators, pioneering tech executives, and investors will share insights on driving digital innovation across Africa and accelerating economic growth and social development.
Confirmed ministerial participation includes leaders from Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Gabon, Guinea, Chad, and Zimbabwe, with additional African states expected to attend through senior delegations.
As Africa’s digital transformation accelerates across sectors, the Connected Africa Summit 2026 stands poised to become the defining platform for collaboration, innovation, and policy action across the continent.
