Nairobi is increasingly becoming Africa’s most ambitious technology capitals and Governor Johnson Sakaja believes the city has the opportunity to become a leading force in the continent’s artificial intelligence future.

Speaking during the opening of AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Sakaja positioned Nairobi as more than just a host city for a major tech event. Instead, he framed the Kenyan capital as a growing innovation hub ready to attract global AI investment, infrastructure, startups, and talent.

His remarks came at a time when countries across Africa are competing to position themselves within the rapidly evolving global AI economy.

For Nairobi, the timing could not be more important.

Over the past decade, Kenya has built a reputation as one of Africa’s most innovative digital economies. From the rise of M-Pesa to the growth of the Silicon Savannah ecosystem, Nairobi has consistently been viewed as East Africa’s technology gateway. But artificial intelligence is now opening an entirely new chapter for the city.

At AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA, that shift was impossible to ignore.

The summit attracted global technology companies, investors, policymakers, startups, and infrastructure providers from more than 75 countries, turning Nairobi into one of the biggest AI conversations currently happening on the continent.

Standing before delegates, Sakaja made it clear that Nairobi wants to remain at the centre of that conversation for years to come.

SAKAJA GITEX Kenya — Nairobi Governor John Sakaja speaking at theAI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA 2026

“I want to assure you of 100 percent dedication, and I am personally going to lead it,” Sakaja said while pledging Nairobi’s long-term support for AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA and the wider GITEX global network.

Behind the statement was a broader vision for the city.

Sakaja grounded his commitment in Nairobi’s advancement and the growing need for increased investment in AI systems, digital infrastructure, and smart technologies that can help transform how African cities operate and compete globally.

The Governor pointed to Nairobi’s increasing use of technology across urban services, from intelligent systems to digital city operations, while encouraging startups and investors attending the summit to see Nairobi as a real market for AI deployment and innovation.

He also challenged startups to build technologies ready for deployment within the capital itself, signaling that Nairobi wants to become both a testing ground and launchpad for African AI solutions.

That message reflects a wider trend taking shape across Kenya.

Artificial intelligence is no longer being viewed purely as a technology sector issue. It is increasingly being linked to economic competitiveness, investment attraction, urban planning, education, finance, logistics, and public service delivery.

And Kenya appears determined to move early.

Throughout the summit, conversations repeatedly focused on the future of African AI infrastructure including hyperscale data centres, sovereign cloud systems, connectivity, compute power, and digital investment ecosystems. Major international firms used the platform to showcase technologies aimed at Africa’s growing AI market, while investors explored opportunities across East Africa’s emerging digital economy.

For Nairobi, this growing attention represents a major opportunity.

The city already hosts many of East Africa’s regional headquarters, startup accelerators, fintech companies, and innovation labs. Now it is increasingly trying to position itself as the continent’s AI gateway as well.

The partnership between iXAfrica Data Centres and Oracle to establish Kenya’s first Oracle Cloud Infrastructure region in Nairobi has further strengthened perceptions that Kenya is becoming a serious destination for cloud and AI infrastructure investment.

Combined with Kenya’s young digital population, strong mobile adoption, and expanding technology ecosystem, Nairobi is beginning to stand out as one of the few African cities aggressively positioning itself for the AI era.

There is also a growing sense among policymakers and technology leaders that Africa risks being left behind if it does not invest quickly enough in AI infrastructure and local innovation ecosystems.

That urgency could be felt throughout AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA this week.

Instead of simply talking about the future of AI, conversations at the summit centered on how Africa can build and control the infrastructure that will power its digital economy for decades to come.

From hyperscale data centres and cloud regions to sovereign AI systems and local compute power, the focus in Nairobi was clear: Africa must move beyond being a consumer of global technology and begin building its own AI ecosystem.

The conversations also revealed a mounting sense of urgency from governments, investors and tech leaders across the continent. As artificial intelligence is transforming industries worldwide with lightning speed, African nations are increasingly competing for the investment, infrastructure and talent to become regional AI leaders.

And for Kenya, that portal is increasingly being positioned as Nairobi.

The city’s increasing clout in fintech, digital services, connectivity, startup innovation and now AI infrastructure is helping to cement its reputation as one of Africa’s key technology hubs.

A significant amount of credit must also be giving The Office of the Special Envoy on Technology in the Presidency, led by H.E. Ambassador Philip Thigo, who has played a central role in enabling AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA 2026 to take place in Kenya. By positioning Kenya as a continental leader in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, innovation policy, and global technology investment, he’s helping bring together international stakeholders, policymakers, investors, and technology firms to accelerate Africa’s AI future.

Today, Nairobi seems determined to remain at the forefront of Africa’s AI race for years to come.