‘Tech for human development: Policy, Innovation and Inclusive Governance
Introduction
The Kenya Internet Governance Forum (KeIGF) is a national Internet governance initiative that stems from the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF). Both are open and inclusive multi-stakeholder platforms, in their respective scopes, for discussing public policy issues related to internet governance, including its security, stability, and development.
Established by the UN Secretary-General in 2006, the IGF fosters open dialogue, shares best practices, identifies emerging issues, and supports capacity building in internet governance. The event brings together representatives from government, private sector, civil society, academia, media, and the technical community to engage in policy discussions on an equal footing. This collaborative “multistakeholder” model is key to the internet’s continued growth and success.
IGF outcomes progress from local to global levels, with national forums like Kenya IGF feeding into regional (East Africa IGF), continental (Africa IGF), and global IGF discussions. Kenya previously hosted the East Africa IGF in 2009 and the global IGF in 2011 in Nairobi.
Every year, the KIGF brings together around 300 industry stakeholders representing the government. KICTANet has convened the Kenya IGF every successive year since 2008 in partnership with industry stakeholders, and this year commemorates the 18th Edition. The outcomes of the Kenya IGF will feed into the African IGF and Global IGF later this year. See the Kenya IGF 2024 Report. Alongside the national IGF, a youth IGF as well as a Children’ IGF shall be convened during the week.
The Kenya IGF theme is ‘Tech for human development: Policy, Innovation and Inclusive Governance’. This theme is aligned with the spirit of the Kenyan constitution which puts inclusive governance, equality, representation and public participation at the centre of Kenyan values. It also aligns with Africa’s efforts on digital transformation through inter African digital trade and an African cohesion to foster tech and human development.
Working Programme
Time | Session Agenda /Panel | Session Agenda/ Panel |
08:00–08:15 | Arrival and Registration | Neema Mujesia (Lead), MAG Team, Volunteers |
08:15–08:30 | Welcome and Introductions | Conference Moderator Ian Muiruri |
08:30–08:45 | Opening and Welcome Remarks Dr. Grace Githaiga, CEO, KICTANet Ali Hussein, Chairperson, KICTANet Charles Juma, Country Lead, UKAID/DAP | Moderator: Conference Moderator |
08:45–09:00 | ||
9:00–10:15 | Session 1 – High-Level Discussion: Tech for Human Development: Policy, Innovation and Inclusive Governance. This session aims to discuss how Kenya can leverage technology to advance human development, focusing on policy frameworks, local innovation, and inclusive governance to address the country’s unique opportunities and challenges. Panelists: Fred Waithaka, Chief Corporate Affairs, Safaricom Dr. Wairagala Wakabi, CIPESA Martin Mirero, Director – ICT, Communications Authority Charles Juma, Country Lead, UK- Digital Access Program Moderator: Dr. Grace Githaiga | |
10:15–10:45 | Plenary Q&A Session | |
Interlude: Spots from event sponsors | ||
10:45–11:15 | Tea Break | |
11:15–12:45 | Session 2 – Breakout (participants chose the following parallel events) | |
Session 2 A – Scaling Local Innovations: Building Resilient Tech Ecosystems for Economic and Social Transformation Venue: Main plenary hall | Session 2 B – Shaping Kenya’s Digital Future: Harmonising Policies for Innovation, Rights, and Secure Digital Governance Venue: Ballroom 2 | |
Synopsis: Kenya’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—anchored in systems like the e-Citizen platform, Maisha Namba, digital payments and robust ICT networks—has catalyzed remarkable gains in service delivery and financial inclusion. Critical gaps in interoperability, citizen trust, innovation and geographic equity. Also, funding for local startups has contracted, highlighting a financing cliff that hinders scale even as over 97 percent of Kenyan tech ventures remain concentrated in Nairobi. Further, marginalized groups including women, youth, persons with disabilities and rural communities continue to be disproportionately excluded from digital opportunities and services. This session aims to discuss how Kenya can scale local innovations to build resilient tech ecosystems that drive economic and social transformation, with a particular focus on strengthening human-centric digital public infrastructure; including digital ID, the e-Citizen platform, and e-Governance; and also enhancing resilience and promoting inclusive social progress across the country. Moderator: Nekesa Were Panelists: Andrew Lewela, CEO, KeNIC Christine Kitale, Dep. Chair, AfIP Mercy Kimalat, CEO, Association of Startups (ASEK) David Omwoyo, Chief Executive Officer of the Media Council of Kenya | Synopsis: Kenya stands at a pivotal moment to shape its digital future by harmonising policies that foster innovation, protect rights, and ensure secure governance through multistakeholder engagement and international cooperation. The multi-stakeholder approach underpins effective Internet governance by bringing together diverse groups to co-create policy frameworks that balance economic growth with human rights protections. The upcoming WSIS+20 review offers a unique opportunity to evaluate progress on Action Lines and to realign national strategies with global best practices. Likewise, preventing Internet fragmentation requires adherence to open, interoperable technical standards and policy coherence across borders. This session aims to discuss how Kenya can leverage multistakeholder approaches and international cooperation to promote tech policies to ensure effective internet governance, drive innovation, safeguard digital rights, prevent internet fragmentation and advancing inclusive growth, in light of emerging developments e.g. WSIS +20 review. Moderator: Jane Muhia, Oxfam Panelists: Bridget Andere, Access Now Joseph Kihanya, KICTANet Liz Orembo, Research ICT Africa & MAG Chair Leonida Mutuku, LDRI | |
12:45–13:45 | Lunch Break | |
Interlude: Spots from event sponsors | ||
Session 3 – Breakout | ||
13:45–15:30 | Session 3 A:, Online Information Integrity, Security Safety, and Trust Venue: Main plenary hall | Session 3 B: Beyond Connectivity: Advancing Digital Inclusion and Affordability for All Venue: Ballroom 2 |
Synopsis: Globally, stakeholders are grappling with diverse approaches to combat disinformation and hate speech, ensuring information integrity, online safety and upholding digital rights on online platforms. Likewise, increasing internet usage and digitalisation has increased vulnerability to data breaches, coordinated cyber attacks and crimes, costing billions of shillings. Both government and private sector services have been disrupted, underscoring critical resilience gaps. This session focuses on ensuring the security, stability, and trustworthiness of the online environment, including addressing information integrity, combating cyber threats, ensuring online safety, promoting digital rights and building resilience, trust and confidence in the information ecosystem. Moderator: Abraham Mariita, Internews Panelists: Gbenga Ssesan, Paradigm Initiative Fortune Sibanda, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, TikTok Sylvia Musalangani, Meta, Caroline Gaita, Executive Director, Mzalendo Lenkai Shangwa, NC4 Kenya | Synopsis: Kenya boasts a promising 27.4 million internet users as of January 2025—meaning over half the population are still offline, despite the existence of universal service funds. Also, affordability of smartphones and mobile broadband remains a critical barrier especially for rural and low-income households. Beyond access, digital inclusion gaps persist for persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups, including youth, women, and people with disabilities. Even where community networks are pioneering, poor infrastructure and limited digital literacy programmes remain key challenges. This session aims to explore strategies for promoting meaningful connectivity and digital inclusion in Kenya, especially for marginalized and underserved communities, by overcoming access and affordability barriers, and expanding digital literacy and skills to ensure no one is left behind. Moderator: Barrack Otieno, Representative, Association of Community Networks in Kenya – Panelists: Bob Ochieng’, ICANN Dr. Fiona Asonga, CEO, TESPOK Daniel Kimutai, Chief Officer ICT, Communication and -Corporate Affairs Elgeyo Marakwet Charles Juma, UKAID/DAP Adam Lane, Huawei, | |
15:30–16:00 | Main hall Reporting back: KIGF capacity-building Initiatives | |
Panelists: Children IGF – Lillian Kariuki Youth IGF – Keith Andere Kenya School of Internet Governance – Mr Barrack Otieno | ||
16:00–16:15 | Rapporteurs Summary Actions, Points and Way Forward | Rapporteurs |
16:15-16:30 | Closing Session John Kiria (representing Mary Kerema, State Department for ICt and the Digital Economy, Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy, MoICDE | Liz Orembo, KIGF MAG Chair |
16:30 – 17:00 | Tea Break and Interlude: Spots from event sponsors as participants stream back into plenary | |
17:00–18:30 | Fireside Chat: Responsible AI & Emerging Technology: Aligning Innovation with Ethics, Equity, and Economic GrowthThis session explores how emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and IoT can be harnessed for good while managing their potential risks and ethical considerations and responsible development. It will also consider Kenya’s preparedness, including its existing digital infrastructure, data governance approaches and how global developments, e.g. chip industry will shape its ability to harness these technologies for economic growth. Moderator: Ali Hussein, Chairman KICTANet Panelists: Joe Kanyua, Head, Digital Transformation, Safaricom John Paul Okwiri, Konza CEO Immaculate Kassait, ODPC Dr. Esther Khakata, Lecturer, Director, Research & Post- Graduate Studies, Strathmore University Liz Orembo, Research ICT Africa, and Trustee at KICTANet | |
19:00–22:00 | Welcome Cocktails and Live Band | Calabash Band |
End of Kenya IGF Event |