The Connected Africa Summit 2025 has kicked off on Kenya’s south coast, gathering more than 1,200 delegates from 24 countries to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. Running through Thursday 29th May, the 14-year-old forum has grown from a government round-table in 2009 into a continental platform where ministers, business leaders and innovators turn policy ideas into investable projects. Safaricom committed to invest in better connectivity, team up with key partners, and use AI to create practical digital tools.
The summit’s theme, “Creating Business Opportunities for Growth,” places a sharp lens on progress since last year’s Nairobi Declaration. Participants are unpacking seven priority areas ranging from digital skills and affordable broadband to harmonised regulation while mapping the financing needed to turn these ambitions into infrastructure on the ground.
With 70 percent of Africans under the age of 30, youth empowerment features prominently on the agenda. Sessions on future-of-work skills, artificial intelligence, the gig economy and climate-tech aim to translate Africa’s demographic dividend into global competitiveness. An Innovation Village showcases start-ups solving local challenges, while a Smart Government Zone highlights e-services that make public institutions faster and more transparent. A dedicated Women in Tech track is also underway to expand female leadership across the digital economy.
Keynote speaker Eng. John Tanui, Principal Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy, outlined Kenya’s plan to become the region’s hub for outsourcing IT-enabled services, underscoring how cross-border partnerships can unlock new markets and jobs. By week’s end, more than 2,000 participants are expected to have shaped actionable recommendations to narrow Africa’s connectivity gap and boost home-grown innovation.
Safaricom: Powering Inclusive, Intelligent Connectivity
Speaking on day one, Cynthia Kropac, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Safaricom, affirmed the company’s role in realising the summit’s vision.
“At Safaricom, we remain firmly committed to driving Africa’s digital future through bold investments in connectivity, strategic partnerships and the transformative power of artificial intelligence.”
Safaricom is expanding fibre, 5G and cloud services across the region. The company is integrating AI into its platforms to deliver more personalised and secure digital experiences. The operator is also collaborating with governments, start-ups and global technology partners to make digital tools more accessible to small businesses and young innovators.
By aligning its network investments and enterprise solutions with the priorities set out at Connected Africa Summit 2025. Safaricom aims to fuel socio-economic growth, create new jobs and ensure that the benefits of the digital economy reach every community on the continent.
