Connected Africa Summit 2026 Set to Unite Continent's Digital Innovators in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya – The Connected Africa Summit (CAS) will return for its 2026 edition from April 27th to 30th at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi, bringing together heads of state, policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators from across the continent to advance Africa's digital transformation agenda.
Organizers announced the confirmation of the fourth edition of the summit at a partners' breakfast this week, unveiling this year's theme: "Uniting Africa's Innovation for an Inclusive Digital Market." The theme builds on the momentum of previous summits—CAS2024's "Shaping the Future of a Connected Africa" and CAS2025's "The Digital Journey: Vision to Reality"—while sharpening the focus on tangible outcomes.

Speaking at the launch event, Eng. John Tanui, CBS, Principal Secretary at the State Department for ICT and Digital Economy, emphasized that the 2026 edition marks a critical shift from dialogue to delivery.

"This summit is our opportunity to show the world how Africa can unite its innovation to build a truly inclusive digital market," Tanui said. "Africa's digital transformation is not about technology alone; it is about people. It is about creating jobs for our youth, strengthening governance, and opening doors for businesses across the continent."

Tanui stressed that CAS2026 will prioritize translating previous declarations into concrete results. "CAS 2026 is about action—turning ideas into solutions, and solutions into opportunities," he added. "Together, we can bridge the digital divide, foster innovation, and ensure that Africa's digital economy is inclusive, resilient, and globally competitive."

The summit is anchored in the African Union's Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020–2030 and will integrate continental frameworks including the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol and the AU Data Policy Framework. Discussions will focus on policy and regulation, digital infrastructure development, skills development, and innovation ecosystems tailored to Africa's unique context.

Jessy Maruti, incoming CEO of the ICT Authority (ICTA), issued a call to action for stakeholders across the continent, positioning the summit as a decisive moment for Africa's digital future.

"From 27th to 30th April, we will convene decision-makers with a mandate: Ministers, regulators, CEOs, and development partners—not merely to exchange perspectives, but to align on execution," Maruti said. "We are no longer deliberating on whether Africa will lead in the digital economy. It is time to question how deliberately and how collectively we can act. The Connected Africa Summit in 2026 is our platform to win, and we invite you to build with us."

The 2026 agenda will explore emerging technologies through an African lens, with sessions dedicated to artificial intelligence and advanced computing tailored to African languages and sectors, digital tools for climate resilience, digital public infrastructure and trust frameworks, and strategies for preparing talent for the future of work. The summit will also examine immersive technologies in public services and the growth of the creative economy through digital platforms.

Building on the success of CAS2025, which drew over 2,000 delegates to Diani and featured addresses from Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, Ambassador Philip Thigo, and Eunice Pohlmann, along with private sector leaders from Cisco, Fortinet, and fintech innovators, the 2026 edition is expected to attract more than 1,500 delegates from over 30 countries.

The 2025 Summit produced the Diani Resolutions, a joint communique outlining commitments to strengthen digital cooperation, and launched the Connected Africa Secretariat, tasked with coordinating continental digital transformation efforts and facilitating regional dialogue.

Organizers expect CAS2026 to build on these outcomes, forging new partnerships and advancing actionable strategies to accelerate Africa's digital transformation journey.

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