Highlights: Africa Tech Policy Summit 2025 – Shaping Africa’s Digital Future

Dear Lister,

The inaugural Africa Tech Policy Summit (AfTPS), held from May 12–16, 2025,
in Nairobi, Kenya, was a landmark event in advancing inclusive digital
transformation across Africa.

Convened by KICTANet, a leading ICT policy think tank, the summit was
supported by a robust coalition of partners, including the UK Government’s
Digital Access Programme, GIZ’s Digital Transformation Centre, Meta
Platforms Inc., Safaricom, Association of Progressive Communications (APC),
Communications Authority, Collaboration on International ICT Policy for
East and Southern Africa (CIPESA),Huawei, Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN), Amazon Web Services, Inc., Mzalendo, Media
Council of Kenya, Kenya Network Information Center (KeNIC), Technology
Service Providers of Kenya (TESPOK), Paradigm Initiative, Internet
Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA), EU’s KenSafeSpaces and CADE
(Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment), Internet Society
Foundation, Belva Digital, and Syokinet as the connectivity partner.

Bringing together over 600 stakeholders—policymakers, private sector
leaders, civil society, academia, and tech innovators—the summit operated
under the theme *“Tech for Human Development: Policy, Innovation, and
Inclusive Governance.”*

It fostered multi-stakeholder collaboration to craft actionable policy
recommendations, positioning Africa as a global leader in digital
governance. Below is a comprehensive summary of the summit’s key events,
outcomes, and impact.

Key Events and Highlights

1. *Kenya Internet Governance Forum (KeIGF) – May 14, 2025*. The 18th
KeIGF
<www.kictanet.or.ke/kenya-igf-2025-tech-for-inclusive-human-development/>,
themed *“Tech for Human Development: Policy, Innovation, and Inclusive
Governance,”* facilitated open dialogue on internet governance, aligning
with Kenya’s constitutional values of inclusivity and public participation.
Discussions focused on fostering home-grown tech solutions, creating
ecosystems for AI and emerging technologies, and harmonizing policies
for sustainable growth. The event included Youth and 6th Children’s IGFs
and featured an award ceremony for 37 graduates of the Kenya School of
Internet Governance (KeSIG).
<www.kictanet.or.ke/kesig-2025-37-graduates-complete-internet-governance-training-at-kigf/>

2. *East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF) – May 15–16, 2025. *In
its 12th edition, the EAIGF
<www.kictanet.or.ke/east-africa-internet-governance-forum-2025-a-regional-push-for-digital-unity/>,
themed *“Advancing East Africa’s Digital Governance Together,” *
emphasized regional collaboration. Convened by KICTANet and the East
African Community (EAC), it facilitated knowledge exchange and best
practice sharing among East African stakeholders. Dr Grace Githaiga,
KICTANet convenor, underscored the need for unified digital governance,
urging East African leaders to align policies for a cohesive digital
economy.

3. *KICTANet-KenSafeSpaces Policy Hackathon – May 16, 2025.* The
KenSafeSpaces Policy Hackathon, supported by the European Union, Internews,
and Internet Without Borders, brought together grassroots CSOs and CBOs to
co-create policy solutions for a democratic, safe, and inclusive digital
environment. Sixty-nine applications were received, with nine three-member
teams competing across three thematic areas:
– Safeguarding Digital Identity and Data Protection
– Combating Online Harassment and Promoting Digital Safety
– Enhancing Content Moderation and Platform Accountability

[image: Data Labellers Association Winners of the Kensafe Policy Hackathon]

*Winners were: *

* – Data Labellers Association (€4,000): “Protecting Kenya’s AI Data
Workers,” addressing mental health and fair pay for AI data workers. –
AbleRise Africa (€3,000): “Enhancing Content Moderation & Platform
Accountability for Persons with Disabilities,” promoting accessibility for
PWDs in informal settlements. – The Youth Cafe (€2,000): “Cyber Rights
Campus Connect,” educating students on cybercrime laws.*
Strategic Context and Impact

AfTPS aligned with Kenya’s National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032 and the
Digital Superhighway initiative, emphasizing digital inclusion and economic
transformation. It supported the African Union’s Agenda 2063, positioning
Africa as a creator of technology. With Kenya’s ICT sector valued at $110
billion, the summit addressed challenges like the digital divide,
cybersecurity, and ethical AI deployment.
<www.kictanet.or.ke/kenyas-digital-transformation-spotlighted-at-dap-workshop/>

The summit also highlighted the precarious state of digital activists, with
over 50 abductions in 2024 linked to protests like the #RejectFinanceBill
movement, underscoring the need for stronger protections.

Geopolitical shifts were noted as a threat to African digital rights
funding,
<www.kictanet.or.ke/geopolitical-shifts-threaten-african-digital-rights-funding/>
with declining support from traditional donors risking the sustainability
of advocacy efforts.

The gig economy’s rapid growth, driven by digital platforms, was recognized
as a key driver of employment
<www.kictanet.or.ke/shaping-the-future-of-work-that-is-the-kenyas-gig-economy/>,
particularly for youth and women, but requires policies to ensure fair
wages and worker protections.

A UK Digital Access Programme (DAP) workshop
<www.kictanet.or.ke/kenyas-digital-transformation-spotlighted-at-dap-workshop/>
emphasized Kenya’s progress in connectivity, with 43% internet penetration,
and stressed the need for continued investment in school connectivity and
digital skills to bridge the digital divide.

AFTPS 2025 Outcomes

Outcomes included actionable policy recommendations, strengthened regional
partnerships, and contributions to global tech governance frameworks that place
emphasis on trust, inclusivity, and sustainability as core principles.

*Broader Ecosystem Engagement*

AfTPS complemented other 2025 tech summits, such as the Connected Africa
Summit (May 26–29, Diani), focusing on cross-border collaboration and
emerging technologies, and the Africa Tech Summit Nairobi (February 12–13),
which celebrated innovations in fintech, health tech, and climate tech.

AfTPS distinguished itself by prioritising policy harmonisation and
inclusive governance, fostering a collaborative environment for
stakeholders.

The summit’s focus on digital advocacy highlighted creative strategies like
anonymous social media campaigns and encrypted tools to ensure activist
safety, reflecting Kenya’s resilient digital advocacy landscape.

Conclusion

The Africa Tech Policy Summit 2025, convened by KICTANet and backed by a
diverse coalition, solidified Kenya’s leadership in Africa’s digital
transformation. By uniting stakeholders to address policy challenges, the
summit delivered solutions for inclusive, safe, and innovative digital
ecosystems. The KenSafeSpaces Policy Hackathon exemplified this mission,
empowering grassroots organisations to drive change. Despite challenges
like activist safety, funding constraints, and privacy concerns, AfTPS set
a precedent for collaborative governance, paving the way for a sustainable
digital future.