Kenya to Host East Africa’s Largest AI Summit as AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA Debuts in Nairobi

By Gedion Nzyoki - 

• Kenya will host East Africa’s largest AI and technology summit next week, bringing together global tech leaders, investors, and policymakers in Nairobi
• The AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA event aims to position Kenya as a key hub for inclusive AI, digital sovereignty, and innovation-driven economic growth in Africa
• Major global technology firms, investors, and African governments are expected to explore AI solutions in sectors including finance, cybersecurity, food systems, and digital infrastructure

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 12, 2026 — Kenya is set to position itself at the centre of Africa’s artificial intelligence revolution as the inaugural AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA conference prepares to convene global technology leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators in Nairobi next week.

The three-day summit and expo, scheduled for May 19–21, is expected to attract regional and international stakeholders seeking to accelerate AI adoption, digital sovereignty, and investment across East Africa’s rapidly expanding technology ecosystem.

Organised by inD, the global organiser of GITEX events, in partnership with the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology of the Republic of Kenya, the event will be held across two venues. The Inclusive AI Everything Summit will take place at the Sarit Expo Centre on May 19, while the AI EVERYTHING KENYA EXPO will continue at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) from May 20–21.

The conference comes at a time when Africa’s AI market is projected to reach US$16.5 billion by 2030, with Kenya increasingly emerging as a strategic innovation hub for the continent.

H.E. Ambassador Philip Thigo, Kenya’s Special Envoy for Technology, said the summit reflects the country’s ambition to shape the future of AI through an African-centered approach focused on inclusion, innovation, and sovereignty.

“Kenya has firmly established itself as a leading technology hub in Africa, driven by innovation, talent, and a forward-looking digital agenda,” Thigo said.

“Hosting AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA is a defining moment for East Africa, reflecting our commitment to shaping the future of AI in a manner that is inclusive, sovereign, and aligned with Africa’s development priorities.”

The event is expected to convene participants from more than 60 countries, with organisers saying international delegates will comprise approximately 60 percent of attendees.

Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of the global organiser of GITEX, said the summit would create new partnerships and opportunities for East Africa’s digital economy.

“AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA shall convene an exceptional gathering of digital economy stakeholders, united in a shared ambition to shape East Africa’s trajectory in the emerging AI era,” she said.

The summit agenda will focus on some of Africa’s most pressing technological and economic challenges, including food security, energy access, financial inclusion, cybersecurity, sovereign AI infrastructure, and digital governance.

Government officials, investors, academics, and technology executives are expected to participate in discussions examining how AI can address development priorities while protecting African data, languages, and innovation ecosystems.

Industry leaders from organisations such as IBM, Goldman Sachs, AGRA, and the European AI Office are expected to share insights on AI deployment and policy frameworks.

The expo will also feature participation from major technology companies including Cisco, Fortinet, Mastercard, HP, Kaspersky, Zoho, and ASUS, alongside African infrastructure firms such as Africa Data Centers and iX Africa Data Centres.

Shehryar Ali, Mastercard’s senior vice president and country manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, said AI is already transforming financial systems across Africa through fraud prevention and digital credit assessment.

“Africa’s AI market is projected to grow to US$16.5 billion by 2030, with the potential to create up to 230 million digital jobs,” Ali said.

“AI is already powering real-time fraud detection that protects billions of transactions, enabling AI-driven credit scoring that opens formal finance to underserved consumers and small businesses.”

Kenya’s growing influence in Africa’s startup ecosystem is also expected to feature prominently during the summit. According to organisers, the country attracted more than US$1.04 billion in venture capital funding in 2025, accounting for over one-quarter of total funding raised across the continent.

The event will host more than 100 investors from 21 countries managing a combined US$50 billion in assets, including firms such as Norrsken22, Partech, Seedstars, Novastar, and Verod Kepple Africa Ventures.

The summit will also include startup competitions, investment forums, and practical workshops designed to help businesses deploy AI tools and cybersecurity solutions.

Among the featured programmes is the ITU AI Readiness Hackathon, organised by the International Telecommunication Union, which will bring together students, developers, and researchers to build open AI knowledge systems using global datasets and cloud-based tools.

Cybersecurity will also take centre stage through the AI Cyber Offense and Defense Roundtable led by ISACA, where experts will examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping cyber threats, digital defence systems, and data protection strategies.

As global competition intensifies around AI development and digital infrastructure, organisers say the Nairobi summit represents a critical opportunity for Africa to shape its own technological future while ensuring that AI solutions are tailored to local realities and development needs.