Huawei today hosted His Excellency Prof. Abraham Kithure Kindiki at its exhibition booth during the official opening of the 15th Connected Africa Summit at The Edge Convention Centre.
The Deputy President was received by Zhai Haipeng, Global Vice President, Huawei Optical Product Line alongside Huawei Kenya leadership during a guided showcase of the company’s latest innovations in connectivity, digital inclusion, digital power and renewable energy solutions designed to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.
During the visit, H.E. Kindiki explored Huawei’s advanced fibre connectivity solutions designed for rapid deployment and simplified maintenance, alongside the latest Wi-Fi 7 router delivering ultra-high-speed, low-latency connectivity for homes, enterprises and public institutions. The router also comes with an internal battery pack that eliminates connectivity cuts in the event of power blackouts, capable of providing 4 hours of usage.
Speaking at the Summit’s official opening, the Deputy President underscored Africa’s collective digital ambition, noting that “Africa is ready to shape its own digital future. Africa is ready to build together. Africa is ready to move from conversation to execution, from pilots to pan-African reality.”
He further emphasized that the continent’s next phase of growth requires deeper integration, stating that “The next phase demands something bigger; alignment, interoperability, trust, and a true African digital market,” calling for stronger collaboration across governments, industry and innovators.
The Deputy President was accompanied by Hon. William Kabogo,Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy and other senior government leaders participating in the Summit.
Organised by ICT Authority of Kenya in partnership with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the four-day Summit has brought together policymakers, innovators, development partners and private sector leaders from across Africa. Key industry partners include Safaricom and Huawei.
Held under the theme Uniting Africa’s Innovation for an Inclusive Digital Market, the Summit is focused on accelerating measurable digital transformation through collaboration, policy alignment and investment in enabling infrastructure.
The opening day featured high-level panel discussions that brought together ministers, regulators and industry executives, including a High-Level Dialogue: Digital Public Infrastructure as Africa’s Engine for Inclusive Digital Transformation and, AI for Africa: From Adoption to Global Leadership, among others.
These discussions explored how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can be scaled to drive inclusion, economic growth and cross-border digital integration across Africa.
Reinforcing the urgency of implementation, Jessy Maruti noted that “Africa cannot fully unlock its digital potential while operating in fragmented systems. We must build stronger continental connectivity, harmonised digital frameworks and resilient infrastructure that allows data, services and innovation to move seamlessly across borders.”
From a private sector perspective, Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO highlighted the growing shift across the continent from conceptual ambition to practical execution. Speaking during the high-level ministerial dialogue on Africa’s Digital Market and Sovereignty, he emphasized that Africa is already operating within an emerging digital economy whose primary constraint is not capability, but fragmentation.
He observed that the foundational elements of a continental digital market are already in place, though they remain unevenly connected across jurisdictions:
“A continental digital market already exists in practice, even if not yet fully reflected in policy. Value moves, connectivity exists, and digital public systems are scaling across countries. What is missing is alignment, not invention.”
He further urged policymakers and regulators to prioritise interoperability and the removal of structural barriers that continue to slow cross-border digital integration and limit the scaling of digital services across the continent.
Complementing this view, Huawei’s Zhai Peng, emphasized human capital development, stating that “Africa’s digital transformation must be powered not only by technology, but by skilled people who can build, manage and innovate with it.”
The 2026 edition of the Summit has attracted senior delegations and ministerial representation from at least 14 African countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Algeria, Angola, Djibouti, South Sudan, Gabon, Guinea and Chad.
Huawei further said its participation reflects its long-term commitment to enabling Africa’s digital transformation through resilient connectivity, inclusive innovation and strategic partnerships that advance sustainable economic growth.
As discussions continue in Nairobi, the Summit is expected to strengthen continental collaboration and accelerate the development of a unified, competitive and future-ready African digital economy.
