By Business Editor
Kenya’s push to cement its position as a regional technology powerhouse gathered momentum with the opening of the three-day Safaricom Engineering Summit – Decode in Nairobi.
Convened by Safaricom in partnership with Microsoft, Google, Dell Technologies, and Huawei, the summit brings together developers, innovators, and global tech leaders to shape the country’s next phase of digital growth.
Held under the theme Made for Kenya, this year’s summit celebrates the ingenuity, creativity, and resilience that have positioned the country as a leader in digital innovation. From mobile-first platforms to inclusive digital ecosystems, the event convenes key players to explore, learn, and collaborate on the future of technology.
More than 100,000 participants are expected to engage both physically and virtually, reflecting the expanding influence of Kenya’s technology ecosystem and the growing demand for practical, inclusive digital solutions.
“The Kenyan people are known for their ingenuity, grit, and hustle—constantly pushing boundaries and experimenting. Decode gives that energy a place to come alive. By bringing developers, creators, and problem-solvers together, we are creating solutions that can scale across Africa and beyond,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC.
Decode 4.0 reinforces Safaricom’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators through hands-on learning and capacity building. Builder labs, code labs, and mentorship programmes form a core part of the summit, enabling participants to engage with practical tools and platforms to build, experiment, and scale solutions that address real-world challenges.
With a strong focus on the rise of intelligent systems, sessions at the summit are aligned to key growth areas, including Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, and Creative Tech, which are emerging as critical drivers of Kenya’s next phase of economic transformation.
Beyond the summit, Safaricom plans to extend the impact of Decode through year-round initiatives, including regional engagements dubbed Decode Cafés, code labs, and mentorship programmes for developers and educators. These initiatives aim to bring technology learning closer to communities nationwide, with participants earning certificates and digital badges to validate their skills as they progress along the digital talent pipeline.
Decode remains Safaricom’s flagship technology forum, driving Kenya’s innovation ecosystem through strategic partnerships and sustained talent development.
