Adam Lane, Policy and partnerships lead at Huawei demonstrates their technology to Vice President Kithure Kindiki and the ICT cabinet,Hon.William Kabogo, during the ongoing 15th edition of the Connected Africa Summit at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi.
By Peace Muthoka
Nairobi, April 28, 2026 — Huawei has unveiled next-generation digital and energy solutions as African leaders and industry players gather in Nairobi for the 15th Connected Africa Summit.
The showcase came as Deputy President Kithure Kindiki visited Huawei’s exhibition booth during the summit’s official opening at the Edge Convention Centre. He was received by Huawei Global Vice President Zhai Haipeng alongside the company’s Kenya leadership for a guided tour of innovations aimed at accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.
During the tour, Kindiki explored advanced fibre connectivity solutions designed for rapid deployment and easier maintenance. He also interacted with the latest Wi-Fi 7 router built to deliver ultra-fast, low-latency internet across homes, businesses and public institutions. The router includes an internal battery capable of sustaining connectivity for up to four hours during power outages.
Speaking at the summit, Kindiki said Africa is ready to take charge of its digital future and move from planning to action. He stressed that the continent must shift from isolated pilot projects to fully integrated, pan-African systems.
“The next phase demands something bigger — alignment, interoperability, trust and a true African digital market,” he said, calling for stronger collaboration among governments, private sector players and innovators.
He was accompanied by ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo and other senior government officials attending the summit.
The four-day event, organised by the ICT Authority of Kenya in partnership with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, has brought together policymakers, innovators and private sector leaders from across the continent. Key partners include Huawei and Safaricom.
Held under the theme “Uniting Africa’s Innovation for an Inclusive Digital Market,” the summit is focused on driving practical digital transformation through policy alignment, infrastructure investment and cross-border collaboration.
High-level discussions on the opening day centred on digital public infrastructure and artificial intelligence, examining how emerging technologies can support inclusion, economic growth and regional integration.
Industry leaders emphasized the need to address fragmentation, which they say remains a major barrier to scaling digital services across Africa. Jessy Maruti noted that stronger connectivity, harmonised frameworks and resilient infrastructure are critical to enabling seamless movement of data and innovation across borders.
Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, accompanied by the ICT cabinet Secretary,William Kabogo at the Huawei Stand, during the ongoing 15th edition of the Connected Africa Summit at the Edge Convention centre in Nairobi
From the private sector, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said Africa’s digital economy is already taking shape, but lacks coordination.
“A continental digital market already exists in practice. Value moves, connectivity exists and digital systems are expanding. What is missing is alignment, not invention,” he said, urging policymakers to prioritise interoperability and remove barriers slowing integration.
Huawei’s Zhai Peng also highlighted the importance of investing in skills, noting that technology alone cannot drive transformation without a workforce capable of building and managing it.
The summit has attracted delegations from at least 14 African countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Algeria, among others.
Huawei said its participation reflects a long-term commitment to supporting Africa’s digital transformation through innovation, partnerships and sustainable infrastructure.
As discussions continue, the summit is expected to strengthen collaboration and fast-track the development of a more connected, competitive and inclusive digital economy across Africa.
