The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, in collaboration with the ICT Authority of Kenya, has officially announced its readiness to host the Connected Africa Summit 2025.
Slated for May 26-29 at Diani on Kenya’s scenic coastline, the summit is expected to be a cornerstone in advancing Africa’s digital transformation agenda, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a central focus.
The rallying call in Kenya’s tech community is now “Tupatane Diani” — Swahili for “Let’s meet in Diani” — as anticipation builds for the annual gathering of Africa’s most influential voices in government, technology, and academia.
During a press briefing at the Nairobi Serena Hotel, Principal Secretary in the State Department for ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, alongside ICT Authority CEO Stanley Kamanguya, confirmed that preparations are complete and the stage is set.
“We want to know how we can help as government to the private sector in our efforts to develop Africa’s digital transformation agenda,” PS Tanui remarked. “We have this event to cultivate the collaboration between ourselves and the private sector and also provide a platform for conversations around technology and its importance in forging Africa’s digital future.”
Kamanguya emphasized the value of partnerships in propelling the continent’s digital journey. “The collaboration that we continue to see from our partners in the private sector, is a true testament of the belief and endorsement to our digital transformation agenda in the country and the continent as a whole,” he stated. “Even in this digital age, the best connection we have is each other. Let’s continue collaborating and supporting each other, and create an
environment that enables us to all thrive.”
This year’s summit will bring together more than 2,000 participants over four days, including key decision-makers, innovators, academics, and policymakers. The agenda will tackle high-impact themes in AI and other fields such as cloud infrastructure, cost of internet access, cybersecurity, fintech, healthtech, and digital public services.
A key highlight will be the Innovation Village, a space dedicated to showcasing AI solutions from African startups and local developers. Meanwhile, the Smart Government Zone will feature cutting-edge digital public sector projects from across the continent.
The summit has also attracted strong support from global technology leaders and financial institutions. Sponsors include Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco, Fortinet, KCB, Safaricom Plc, and Silicon Overdrive, among others.
“This is the third year that we are participating in this event and the main reason is because it brings the government and the private sector together. It is even more important for this collaboration today because of the emerging technologies that are in play,” said Shain Rahim, the Country Manager, CISCO. “We all know that AI is a buzzword and we look forward to sharing how CISCO is modernizing security in the AI world.”
The summit will feature high-level plenaries, executive roundtables, and sector-specific breakout sessions aimed at fostering dialogue and unlocking strategic partnerships. Policy makers will engage with industry leaders to craft actionable strategies that ensure Africa is not just a consumer but also a creator in the digital age.
“We want to assure you that we are more than ready. The registration of delegates is going well. I welcome all of you to Diani. Tupatane Diani,” Kamanguya added.
