The Connected Africa Summit 2025 officially opened on Monday in Diani, Kwale County, bringing together over 1,200 delegates from 24 countries in a strong show of global commitment to accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.
The four-day summit, running until Thursday, has attracted top government officials, private sector leaders, innovators, and policymakers, all converging to shape the continent’s digital future.
The summit opened with a call for concrete action, particularly around the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration, which was adopted at last year’s event. In his opening remarks, Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of the ICT Authority of Kenya, emphasized the importance of continuity and accountability.
“This is the second time we are converging at a continental level. The Connected Africa Summit has kicked off in a big way. The strong turnout shows the level of interest in Africa’s digital agenda. This year, we are following up on the Nairobi Declaration to assess progress, identify challenges, and explore implementation opportunities,” said Kamanguya.
H.E. Hon. William Kabogo Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information Communication
and Digital Economy in Kenya and other delegates from other Africa countries –
some of the company’s products at the Sfaricom Business Booth./COURTESY
Key themes at the summit include youth empowerment, especially given that 70% of Africa’s population is under 30, scaling local innovations, harmonizing ICT policies across the continent, and promoting digital inclusion by closing the internet access gap.
Kamanguya noted that the summit is expected to generate actionable policy recommendations and examine alternative financing models to support digital infrastructure growth.
Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Kropac, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to inclusive digital growth across the continent.
“At Safaricom Business, we remain firmly committed to driving Africa’s digital future through bold investments in connectivity, strategic partnerships, and the transformative power of artificial intelligence. By fostering innovation and enabling access to digital solutions, we are unlocking socio-economic growth and empowering communities,” said Kropac.
remarks during the Connected Africa Summit 2025 Launch in Diani on Tuesday, 27 th
May, 2025./COURTESY
A highlight of the opening day was a keynote address by Eng. John Tanui, CBS, Principal Secretary in the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy. Speaking on “Positioning Kenya as Africa’s Next Hub for Outsourcing IT-Enabled Services (ITES),” Tanui outlined Kenya’s strategy to become a regional leader in digital services.
Day one also featured engaging discussions on the future of work, artificial intelligence, the gig economy, 5G and connectivity, climate tech innovations, and the urgent need for robust digital public infrastructure.
Outside the plenary sessions, the summit is showcasing African innovation through an Innovation Village, where startups and developers are exhibiting tech-driven solutions to real-world challenges. A Smart Government Zone is also spotlighting digital transformation initiatives from public sector institutions across Africa.
Efforts to promote inclusivity are further underscored through a dedicated Women in Tech session, designed to empower African women to take leading roles in the digital economy.
With over 2,000 participants expected by the end of the week, the Connected Africa Summit 2025 is set to be a landmark event in shaping a digitally inclusive, innovative, and interconnected future for the continent.