Kenya is poised to become the epicenter of the African technological revolution. In a landmark collaboration with the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology, the region’s most anticipated tech event, AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA, will debut in Nairobi from 19–21 May 2026.
This high-impact summit arrives as the continental AI market is projected to hit $16.5 billion, positioning Nairobi as the strategic gateway for inclusive AI, digital sovereignty, and cross-border investment.
A Dual-Venue Tech Takeover
Organized by inD (the global powerhouse behind GITEX), the three-day event is strategically split across two of Nairobi’s premier venues to maximize networking and deployment opportunities:
Inclusive AI Everything Summit (19 May): Hosted at the Sarit Expo Centre, this opening day focuses on Pan-African policy, sovereign AI infrastructure, and bridging social gaps through technology.
AI EVERYTHING KENYA EXPO (20–21 May): Taking place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the expo serves as the "AI in Action" hub, featuring global tech giants and sector-specific forums.
Strategic Pillars of the 2026 Summit
The event is designed to move beyond theory and into the deployment of AI solutions specifically built for the African context. Key focus areas include:
Digital Sovereignty: Debating "sovereignty without walls" and ensuring African data and languages are preserved in the AI era.
Financial Inclusion: Showcasing how AI-driven credit scoring and fraud detection (led by partners like Mastercard) are opening formal finance to underserved markets.
Agri-Tech & Food Security: Intelligent food systems and predictive analytics to feed the future.
Cybersecurity: High-intensity simulations by ISACA and Fortinet focusing on deepfake defense and AI-driven phishing scenarios.
"Kenya has firmly established itself as a leading technology hub in Africa," says H.E. Ambassador Philip Thigo, Special Envoy for Technology. "Hosting AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA is a defining moment, reflecting our commitment to an AI future that is inclusive and aligned with Africa’s development priorities."
A Global Magnet for Capital and Innovation
Kenya secured over $1.04 billion in venture capital in 2025—more than a quarter of all funding raised in Africa. AI EVERYTHING KENYA 2026 will supercharge this momentum by connecting local founders with 100+ global investors managing over $50 billion in assets.
Key Startup & Investor Features:
The Supernova Challenge: The world’s premier startup pitch competition, offering equity-free cash prizes.
Venture Scaling Forum: Practical sessions on path-to-profitability and product-market fit for the African continent.
Global Ecosystem Enablers: Participation from giants such as Cisco, HP, Zoho, Kaspersky, and Africa Data Centres.
Hands-On Empowerment: Workshops and Hackathons
Unlike traditional conferences, this event prioritizes technical readiness.
ITU AI Readiness Hackathon: The first in a global series, inviting students and researchers to co-create an open AI knowledge base.
Open-Weight Model Training: Practical sessions on deploying Llama and Mistral models within African infrastructure.
Rapid Prototyping: A "pitch-to-prototype" sprint helping founders build AI MVPs in just three hours.
With 60% of attendees arriving from international markets, AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA is more than a trade show—it is the birth of a new digital era for East Africa.
Event Details:
Dates: 19–21 May 2026
Locations: Sarit Expo Centre & KICC, Nairobi
Registration & Info:aieverythingkenya.com
Media Contact:
Gareth Wright, AVP – PR & Communications
gareth.wright@dwtc.com | +971 50 273 3832
