What You Need to Know
At the 15th Connected Africa Summit in Nairobi, leaders emphasized the importance of seamless connectivity and policy harmonization to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. They highlighted the need for collaboration between governments and the private sector to overcome regulatory barriers and unlock the continent’s digital economy potential.
Africa-Press – Kenya. A strong push for seamless connectivity and policy alignment took centre stage at the 15th Connected Africa Summit in Nairobi, as industry leaders warned that regulatory barriers are slowing the continent’s digital transformation.
The high-level forum, held at the Edge Convention Centre, brought together policymakers, tech players and industry stakeholders, all rallying behind a common message: Africa must remove structural and policy bottlenecks to unlock a truly connected digital economy.
Speakers noted that while the continent has key advantages — including a youthful population, rising digital adoption and expanding infrastructure — progress remains uneven due to fragmented policies and limited collaboration.
Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, underscored the need for closer ties between governments and the private sector to accelerate change.
“To unlock Africa’s full potential, we must deepen collaboration between governments and the private sector. By working together, we can create enabling policies, invest in the right infrastructure and accelerate public sector digitisation in a way that is inclusive, scalable and impactful for millions of Africans,” he said.
At the summit, Safaricom showcased its converged digital services model, integrating enterprise solutions, financial services, public sector digitisation and technology to support governments with secure and scalable systems.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki echoed the call for inclusivity, stressing that governments cannot drive digital transformation alone.
“The public sector does not have a monopoly on resources. To achieve inclusion in the digital market, we must collaborate with the private sector and the citizens themselves,” he said.
As the summit heads into its third day, leaders are now urging coordinated action, warning that Africa’s digital future hinges on unified policies, stronger partnerships and a shared vision for a connected continent.
The Connected Africa Summit is a significant event that gathers industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the future of digital connectivity in Africa. This year’s summit, held in Nairobi, focuses on addressing the regulatory challenges that hinder the continent’s digital transformation. As Africa continues to embrace technology, the need for cohesive policies and collaboration between sectors becomes increasingly critical to ensure inclusive growth and development in the digital landscape.
