East Africa’s Largest AI & Innovation Ecosystem Event

The world’s largest tech show brand, GITEX, is making its mark in East Africa. Organised by KAOUN International in partnership with the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology of the Republic of Kenya and Africa’s premier technology catalyst, dx⁵ (pronounced “dx-five”), Ai Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya will debut in Nairobi from 19–21 May 2026, aiming to harness Kenya’s booming digital economy and unlock an estimated US $2.4 billion in AI-driven GDP growth by 2030 (gitex-europe.com).

Kenya’s Rising Tech & AI Landscape

Over the past decade, Kenya has deliberately positioned itself as a continental leader in digital infrastructure, mobile money, and innovation. Home to the world-renowned M-Pesa, Nairobi’s “Silicon Savannah” has attracted global tech giants, startups, and development partners alike. According to the Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032, digitalization is projected to add up to 15 percent to national GDP by 2032, underpinning initiatives in e-government, smart cities, and public service delivery (cms.icta.go.ke).

Building on this momentum, the government released its first-ever National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2025–2030) in March 2025. The strategy envisions Kenya as a regional AI hub for model innovation, emphasizing capacity building, data governance, and responsible AI adoption across agriculture, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing (Ministry of ICT).

Fueling Economic Growth: $2.4 Billion by 2030

A joint study by KAOUN International and the Government of Kenya forecasts that AI applications—from precision agriculture and fintech to healthcare diagnostics—will contribute US $2.4 billion to Kenya’s GDP by 2030, while creating over 300,000 direct jobs by 2028. This figure reflects productivity gains, export expansion, and a surge in domestic AI startups that are rapidly earning funding on global platforms (gitex-europe.com).

Moreover, a broader SAP report estimates that if Africa captures just 10 percent of the global AI market, the continent could add US $1.5 trillion to its economy by 2030—making Kenya’s target both ambitious and foundational for regional leadership (Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications –).

Organisers & Strategic Partnerships

• KAOUN International: As the global organiser of GITEX events, KAOUN brings 45 years of experience staging shows in eight countries and five regions—including the UAE, Germany, Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—now adding Kenya to its portfolio (GITEX).
  
• Office of the Special Envoy on Technology: Spearheaded by Ambassador Philip Thigo, this office ensures alignment with Kenya’s digital diplomacy and multilateral engagement strategies.
  
• dx⁵: A leading African technology driver, dx⁵ convenes government, industry, and civil society under platforms like the Smart Government Summit and the Africa Technology Awards, cementing its role as a bridge between innovation and policy (CIO Africa).
  

Together, these partners will deliver a one-day Global Summit and a two-day Exhibition, featuring keynote sessions, panel discussions, hackathons, and pitch competitions that spotlight homegrown and international AI solutions.

Government Vision: Digital Master Plan & BETA Alignment

Kenya’s National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032 sets a roadmap for integrating ICT across all sectors, focusing on four pillars—digital economy, digital society, digital government, and the enabling foundation of infrastructure and security. The plan aims to position Kenya as a regional digital leader, improving service delivery, expanding broadband access, and narrowing the digital divide (cms.icta.go.ke).

Complementing this, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)—embedded in the 2023–2027 Medium Term Plan—advocates a value-chain approach to growth, prioritizing sectors where Kenya enjoys comparative advantage, such as agribusiness, manufacturing, and creative industries. BETA’s objectives include job creation, reducing cost of living, enhancing export competitiveness, and broadening the tax base—objectives directly supported by SEZ-style events like GITEX Kenya (KIPPRA Repository).

Multilateral Hub: Global Data Festival & Tech Diplomacy

In May 2026, Nairobi will also host the Global Data Festival, convening over 1,500 delegates from more than 90 countries—governments, UN agencies, private sector, and civil society—to explore data innovations for sustainable development. This joint hosting underscores Kenya’s ambition to be the world’s multilateral hub for digital cooperation, weaving technology considerations into peacebuilding, trade negotiations, and development partnerships (data4sdgs.org).

Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025 officially elevated technology diplomacy as a pillar of Kenya’s foreign policy, mandating the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology to lead international collaboration on emerging technologies, AI regulation, and cross-border data governance. Hosting GITEX Kenya aligns with this mandate, showcasing Kenya not only as a consumer of technology but as an active creator and standard-setter.

Event Highlights & Thematic Streams

Ai Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya will revolve around six core themes:

1. Artificial Intelligence: From generative AI and machine learning to explainable AI frameworks.
   
2. Agritech: Precision farming, supply chain traceability, and agri-fintech innovations.
   
3. Cloud & Data Centres: Hyperscale data centre investments, edge computing, and sovereign cloud initiatives.
   
4. Cybersecurity: Threat intelligence, zero-trust architectures, and cyber-resilience for critical infrastructures.
   
5. Internet of Things (IoT): Smart city deployments, sensor networks, and industrial IoT solutions.
   
6. Sustainability & Green Tech: Renewable energy integrations, carbon-neutral data centres, and circular economy applications.
   

Attendees can expect exhibitions by leading global brands, investor roundtables, startup accelerator showcases, and hands-on workshops—creating an end-to-end platform for deal-making and knowledge exchange.

Kenya’s Competitive Edge

• Digital Infrastructure: With over 85 percent 4G coverage and accelerating fiber-optic rollouts, Kenya offers robust connectivity for data-intensive AI applications.
  
• Talent Pool: A youthful demographic—over 75 percent under 35—coupled with strong STEM programs at universities like the University of Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology fosters a growing cadre of developers, data scientists, and engineers.
  
• Innovation Ecosystem: Nairobi hosts leading tech hubs (e.g., iHub, NaiLab), fintech unicorns (Flutterwave, M-Pesa), and research centers (IBM Research-Africa), creating fertile ground for AI startups to scale.
  

These factors, combined with targeted government incentives—tax breaks in SEZs, research grants, and streamlined regulatory frameworks—position Kenya as a launchpad for regional digital transformation.

GITEX’s Global Footprint & Strategic Expansion

Since its inception in Dubai in 1976, GITEX has grown into a global network of events across:

• Middle East & North Africa: GITEX Global (UAE), GITEX Africa (Morocco)
  
• Europe: GITEX Europe (London, Berlin)
  
• Asia: GITEX Singapore, GITEX Thailand, GITEX Vietnam
  
• Emerging Hubs: Germany, Kazakhstan, Nigeria
  

By entering Nairobi, GITEX taps into the fastest-growing tech market in Sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing its brand promise of connecting markets, capital, and talent across continents 

Challenges & Mitigation

While the outlook is optimistic, several challenges persist:

• Regulatory Harmonization: Divergent regional ICT policies can impede cross-border trade. The AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, expected to be ratified soon, aims to standardize data flows and e-commerce regulations.
  
• Infrastructure Gaps: Power reliability remains an issue outside urban centers. Public-private partnerships are financing microgrids and backup systems within SEZs to ensure uptime.
  
• Talent Retention: Brain drain to global tech hubs can hamper scale-up. Initiatives like the Kenya AI Fellowship and diaspora engagement programs seek to reverse this trend.
  

Organisers plan to collaborate with regional bodies—AfriLabs, the Smart Africa Alliance, and the East African Community—to align policies and maximize impact.

Looking Ahead: Beyond 2026

Ai Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya is more than a three-day event; it is the catalyst for a decade of transformation:

• SEZ Integration: Plans are underway to launch AI-centric tech parks in Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret by 2028, creating decentralized innovation corridors.
  
• Startup Investment Fund: A US $100 million seed fund, backed by dx⁵ and local pension schemes, will underwrite early-stage AI ventures.
  
• Academic-Industry Linkages: Joint labs with universities will focus on applied research in agriculture, healthtech, and climate resilience.
  

These initiatives aim to maintain Kenya’s momentum, ensuring that by 2030 the country is not only a leading AI consumer but a global exporter of African-designed solutions.

Conclusion

The debut of Ai Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya in May 2026 represents a watershed moment in East Africa’s digital narrative. By tapping into Kenya’s robust ICT infrastructure, strategic policy framework, and dynamic talent pool, the event is poised to unlock US $2.4 billion in AI-driven economic value, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and cement Nairobi’s role as a multilateral hub for digital cooperation. As governments, businesses, and innovators converge, Kenya’s vision of inclusive, sustainable, and homegrown technological progress takes a giant leap forward—demonstrating that Africa is not just ready for the future of tech; it is defining it.

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Photo source: Google

By: Montel Kamau

Serrari Financial Analyst

28th May, 2025