In a vibrant press briefing at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel on 19 May 2025, Eng. John Tanui, Principal Secretary, Department of ICT and Digital Economy, and Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of the ICT Authority of Kenya, officially launched the clarion call “Tupatane Diani” as Kenya prepares to host the Connected Africa Summit on the shores of the Indian Ocean.
From its origins as Connected Kenya, the event has grown into the premier pan-African platform for digital dialogue.
This year’s summit will convene over 2,000 delegates, spanning government leaders, tech innovators, and academic experts, to debate, design, and deliver Africa’s digital future.
Stanley Kamanguya underscored that “the best technology we have is each other,” applauding robust private-sector partnerships that validate Kenya’s digital ambitions. “Registration is going well, Tupatane Diani!” he declared, extending a warm welcome to all attendees.
Reflecting on the Nairobi Declaration from the 2023 Summit, Eng. John Tanui highlighted the importance of measuring progress on infrastructure, digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and innovation ecosystems.
“This year, we assess our achievements, re-energize our goals, and align on priority actions to drive continental digital growth,” he remarked during a media breakfast.
Major tech players such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Fortinet, KCB, Safaricom Plc, and Silicon Overdrive have reaffirmed their support.
Shain Rahim, Cisco’s Country Manager, highlighted AI’s pivotal role: “We look forward to sharing how Cisco is modernizing security in the AI world.”
Four Days of High-Impact Programming
Over the course of four days, participants will engage in
- Plenary sessions on AI, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity.
- Executive roundtables with policymakers and CEOs.
- Breakout workshops in fintech, healthtech, and digital public services.
- Policy dialogues to align regulation with innovation.
An Innovation Village will spotlight homegrown startups, while the Smart Government Zone will display flagship e-government projects from across the continent. Curated networking opportunities will catalyze strategic partnerships and investment.
As “Tupatane Diani” resonates across Kenya’s tech ecosystem, expectations are high that the Connected Africa Summit 2025 will mark a milestone in uniting stakeholders and accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.
