SMART AFRICA, the coordinating secretariat for ICT programmes and activities for the African Continent has announced that Kenya has successfully won the bid to host the prestigious 2024 Transform Africa Summit (TAS-24).
The momentous announcement was made on Tuesday during the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain in the presence of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eliud Owalo.
In his acceptance speech, the CS noted that the victory underscores Kenya’s standing as an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) powerhouse and a regional leader in driving the transformative impact of ICTs on socio-economic development; augmented by the transformational leadership espoused by Kenya’s President William Ruto.
Expressing his delight at the announcement, Owalo reiterated that this win is a testament to the confidence that the Smart Africa Alliance places in Kenya and its leadership.
“It solidifies our Nation’s tradition as a home for high-profile international conferences, an ICT investment destination of choice and highlights Kenya’s commitment to advancing the Digital Agenda in Africa,” he added.
The Transform Africa Summit, organised annually by the Smart Africa Alliance, is the foremost continental forum uniting global and regional ICT leaders from government, business and international organisations.
This collaboration aims to explore innovative approaches to shaping, accelerating and sustaining Africa’s ongoing digital revolution.
The bidding process, initiated in November last year, through the Communication Authority, reflected Kenya’s determination to secure the hosting rights and showcase the Nation’s capabilities on a global stage.
The Transform Africa Summit is scheduled to take place in Nairobi from August 28 – 30 this year.
Present at the event were ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin; Commissioner Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization African Union, Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid; Director- General Smart Africa, Lacina Kone; ICT Ministers from several African countries, including Zimbabwe’s Dr. T.A. Mavetera; Rwanda’s Paula Ingabire; Madagascar’s Tahina Razafindramalo; Ghana’s Ursula Owusu-Ekuful; Gabon’s Laurence Ndong; Burundi’s Leocadie Ndacyayisaba; Communication’s Authority Chairperson Mary Wambui and Communications Authority Director General David Mugonyi.
By Michael Omondi
