NAIROBI, Kenya, May 20 – Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced plans to make Nairobi a long-term host of AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA as the city pushes to position itself as a leading technology and artificial intelligence hub in Africa.
Speaking during the opening of the AI EVERYTHING Expo at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Sakaja said the county government was ready to continue partnering with the organisers beyond this year’s inaugural event.
“We are willing to collaborate and partner beyond the current edition. This will not be the first time,” Sakaja said.
The governor said Nairobi was increasingly adopting technology in public services, including digital business permits, smart traffic management systems and air quality monitoring.
He also pointed to the use of technology in the city’s school feeding programme, where NFC systems are being used to support more than 326,000 children.
Sakaja said Nairobi’s strong uptake of mobile money services such as M-Pesa had made residents more open to adopting new technologies.
He called on startups attending the summit to develop solutions that can be deployed within the city, saying Nairobi was ready to support innovation and attract investors.
The event, organised by inD in partnership with the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology, has brought together startups, investors, policymakers and technology firms from 75 countries.
Special Envoy on Technology Philip Thigo said Africa should position itself as a major player in the global AI industry through investment in infrastructure, talent and innovation.
ICT Principal Secretary John Tanui said Kenya had already invested in digital infrastructure, including submarine cable connectivity and online government services, to support growth in the technology sector.
The three-day summit features more than 280 exhibitors, over 120 speakers and 100 investors.
AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA ends on May 21 in Nairobi.
