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Kenya Youth IGF 2025

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Kenya Youth IGF 2025 Concept Note:

Date: 13 May 2025 I Full Day Event: 08:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Venue: Sarova Stanley Hotel, Nairobi

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Theme: “From Participation to Power: Centering Kenyan Youth in Internet Governance”

Introduction

Kenya boasts a vibrant and youthful population that is deeply intertwined with the digital landscape. As the digital landscape continues to evolve rapidly, young people in Kenya are both key players and critical stakeholders in shaping the future of the internet. The Kenya Youth IGF 2025 aims to bring together young voices from across the country to engage in meaningful discussions on the pressing issues in internet governance and policy. By fostering dialogue and creating space for collaboration, this event aims to empower youth to become active participants in internet governance processes and contribute to shaping policies that directly affect their digital futures.

Background

The internet is no longer a tool; it is a lifeline. From education and employment opportunities to access to health and social services, the digital space influences nearly every aspect of daily life. In Kenya, youth are at the forefront of using technology to innovate, express themselves, and drive social and economic change. However, when it comes to decisions around digital policies, young people often find themselves excluded from the key discussions. The Kenya Youth IGF seeks to address this gap by engaging youth in important conversations around digital access, emerging technologies, and governance structures. This event will create an inclusive environment where young Kenyans from all backgrounds,—urban, rural, tech-savvy, or new to the digital world, and in all their diversities—can contribute their perspectives and ideas.

Objectives

  1. Foster Meaningful Engagement: Provide a platform for youth to engage directly with internet governance topics, ensuring that their voices are not only heard but also integrated into ongoing national and global dialogues. 
  2. Explore Emerging Technologies and Trends: Encourage in-depth discussions on the implications of AI, digital public infrastructure, universal access, and other emerging technologies on youth in Kenya. 
  3. Build Collaborative Networks: Strengthen connections between youth, government representatives, tech experts, and policy makers, enabling sustained collaborations for inclusive digital growth. 
  4. Promote Skilling and Empowerment: Address the current gaps in digital skills and explore opportunities for youth to upskill, reskill, and become competitive in the digital economy. 
  5. Inspire Action: Motivate participants to take the insights gained from the event and use them to advocate for policies that serve youth interests in internet governance and digital transformation. 

Expected Outcomes

  1. Enhanced Youth Engagement in Digital Policy: Empowered youth who are better equipped to participate in IGF processes and influence digital policies at the local, national, and global levels. 
  2. Stronger Networks and Collaboration: New partnerships and a stronger sense of community among young people working in the tech, policy, and advocacy sectors, with a focus on collective impact. 
  3. Actionable Insights on Digital Issues: Concrete ideas and recommendations to improve access to digital technologies, bridge the digital divide, and ensure that emerging tech serves the interests of youth across Kenya. 
  4. Increased Digital Skills Awareness: Increased recognition of the importance of digital skilling and the need for accessible, inclusive training opportunities for Kenyan youth. 
  5. Follow-Up Opportunities: Establish a framework for continued discussions and collaborations, ensuring that the outcomes from the event translate into real-world action.

Kenya Youth IGF Program Line-Up

TimeActivityLead/Facilitator
2:00 – 2:15 PMWelcome, Purpose of the Day & Ground RulesOrganizers
2:15 – 2:25 PMScene-Setting: Youth & Internet Governance in KenyaValarie WaswaLegal Fellow & Digital Rights Advocate, KICTANet
2:25 – 3:00 PMTheme 1: Youth Engagement in IGF ProcessesCarrine Ishimwe, ITU Generation Connect Youth Envoy Rwanda
3:00 – 3:35 PMTheme 2: AI & Emerging TechnologiesWilliam Abala, Communications Assistant Terres des hommes Netherlands
3:35 – 4:10 PM Theme 3: Universal Access, DPI & Digital DevelopmentHamda Said Ali, Program Manager, Kiamaiko Foundation
4:10 – 4:40 PMTheme 4: Skilling, Reskilling & the Future of Work in Kenya’s Digital EraArnold Gekonge, Founder, Champions for Sustainable Development
4:40 – 4:55 PMGroup Reflections: Takeaways, Actions & Collaboration IdeasOpen Mic / Facilitated Sharing

4:55 – 5:00 PM		losing Remarks & Next StepsValarie Waswa