20 May 2026, Hybrid Event, Nairobi Kenya
Concept Note and Agenda
Theme: “Digital Future, Youth Voice: Shaping Kenya’s Internet Governance Agenda”
1. Introduction
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a multi-stakeholder forum for policy dialogue on issues of Internet governance. The forum is held in an informal setting, free from binding negotiations. It brings together all stakeholders from government, private sector, technical community, academia and civil society to discuss Internet governance issues on an equal footing through an open and inclusive process. This type of cooperative engagement is referred to as the multi-stakeholder model of Internet Governance, which is one of the key features for the Internet’s success.
Kenya IGF, the national initiative (NRI) of the IGF process has positioned itself as Kenya’s Premier Policy Forum having successfully held 14 annual meetings of the National IGF in Kenya since 2008. KenyaIGF hosted the global IGF Forum in 2011. Over the years, Kenya IGF has continued to open up the space for new voices and champion the capacity development of many through the annual Kenya School of Internet Governance that was launched in 2016. Majority of the beneficiaries of this program have been youth from various stakeholder groups who have since been meaningfully engaged in subsequent National and Regional IGFs.
This concept note outlines the vision, objectives, and proposed structure for the Kenya Youth IGF 2026, which aims to equip youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in shaping Kenya’s digital future.
2. Background
Young people are key stakeholders in the IGF ecosystem as they are the majority in Kenya, Africa and the world over. The IGF secretariat has since recognized the importance of meaningful youth participation at the IGF processes and promotes the strengthening of Youth IGF Initiatives. Youth Initiatives of the IGF are created with a goal of encouraging and involving young people in a substantive discussion on Internet governance. These forms, as well as the national, sub-regional and regional IGFs (NRIs), are expected to follow the main IGF principles of being open, inclusive, non-commercial with multi-stakeholder participation during the whole preparatory phase and the event itself, all in line with a bottom-up decision-making process.
Kenya Youth IGF is a youth-led structure to develop the capacity for coordinating, mobilizing and advocating for meaningful inclusion and engagement of young people in the Kenya IGF in partnership with industry stakeholders to address key Internet issues. This year’s Kenya YouthIGF aims at serving as an interactive discussion platform for organized youth participation from all stakeholder groups to bring up their ideas and concerns. The Forum will further create opportunities for networking, collaboration and creating long-term partnerships between key stakeholders and the community.
3. Goals and Objectives
3.1. Primary Goal
To foster informed and inclusive youth participation in the national and global Internet Governance ecosystem.
3.2. Key Objectives
- Capacity Building: To enhance the understanding of key Internet Governance issues, including digital rights, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy, among Kenyan youth.
- Policy Engagement: To create a platform for youth to engage directly with policymakers, industry leaders, civil society, and technical experts on pressing digital policy matters.
- Networking and Collaboration: To facilitate the creation of a national network of young Internet Governance enthusiasts and future leaders.
- Input Generation: To generate policy recommendations and actionable outcomes from a youth perspective for presentation at the Kenya IGF, regional forums, and the global IGF.
4. Proposed Theme and Sub-Themes
4.1. Proposed Theme
“Digital Future, Youth Voice: Shaping Kenya’s Internet Governance Agenda”
4.2. Sub-Themes
The Kenya Youth IGF 2026 will focus on the following sub-themes:
| Sub-Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Digital Rights and Safety | Focus on freedom of expression, privacy, data protection, and combating online gender-based violence. |
| AI, Emerging Tech, and Youth Jobs | Discussing the opportunities and policy challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies for youth employment and entrepreneurship. |
| Access, Inclusion, and Digital Divide | Strategies for achieving universal access, digital literacy, and ensuring no youth is left behind in the digital economy. |
| Cybersecurity and Trust | Exploring youth’s role in promoting a secure online environment, focusing on responsible digital citizenship and policy frameworks. |
5. Target Audience
The Kenya Youth IGF targets 90 participants who will consist of individuals representing various sectors including government, the private sector, civil society, the technical and academic community, and the general public. The invitation to the event shall be open to all via a public link.
6. Structure and Modalities
The Kenya Youth IGF 2026 will be a one-day event happening on the 20th May 2026, incorporating a multi-stakeholder approach as part of theKenya Internet Governance Forum as part of the Africa Tech Policy Summit.
6.1. Format
The forum will utilize a hybrid approach, combining in-person sessions at a central location in Nairobi with virtual participation options to ensure wider reach.
6.2. Session Modalities
- Keynote Addresses: Inspirational speeches from high-level stakeholders.
- Panel Discussions: Multi-stakeholder panels addressing the sub-themes.
- Workshops/Breakout Sessions: Hands-on training and collaborative policy drafting sessions.
- Youth Policy Pitch Competition: Participants will present innovative policy solutions to a panel of experts.
- Mentorship Session: Connecting youth participants with experienced Internet Governance professionals.
7. Expected Outcomes
The main outcome of the Kenya YouthIGF is to maximize opportunities for open and inclusive dialogue and the exchange of ideas on Internet Governance (IG) related issues relevant to the young people. Others include:
- Creation of opportunities to share best practices and experiences;
- Identification of emerging issues and bringing them to the attention of the relevant bodies and the general public;
- Contribution to capacity building for Internet governance.
8. Partnerships and Governance
The Kenya Youth IGF 2026 will be organized by a multi-stakeholder Steering Committee. Key partners will include:
- Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy
- Communications Authority of Kenya (CA)
- Internet Society Kenya Chapter (ISOC-Kenya)
- Academic Institutions (e.g., University of Nairobi)
- Private Sector/Tech Companies
- Civil Society Organizations