R-L Ms. Josephine Ndambuki from Konza Technopolis, Mr. Jeremy Riro,MD FIE-LABS innovation Hub,Ms. Anne Ichung’wa, MD GAK advisory, Diana Maina,Senior Innovation Officer Kenya National Innovation Agency and Mr. Savio Wambugu,Director, Mount Kenya Innovation hub and Board Director ICTAuthority.
NAIROBI, May 12, 2026 — Kenya’s ambitions to cement its position as Africa’s leading innovation hub received a boost on Monday after Konza Technopolis hosted the inaugural IPDAYS Nairobi x Silicon Savannah Startup Fair 2026, bringing together startups, investors, and policymakers from Kenya, Tunisia, and Egypt to deepen cross-border innovation partnerships.
The forum, held in Nairobi, marked a key milestone in efforts to position Kenya as a gateway for North African startups seeking to expand into Sub-Saharan Africa under the broader African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Organised in partnership with RedStart Tunisie, Seketak Solutions, Fie Labs, and GAK Advisory, the event featured startup pitch sessions, investor matchmaking forums, policy dialogues, and capacity-building workshops aimed at accelerating market entry and strengthening regional collaboration.
Speaking during the forum, Konza Technopolis Chief Executive Officer John Paul Okwiri said Africa’s digital future depends on stronger collaboration, investment, and structured ecosystem support across the continent.
“This occasion is more than a gathering; it is a statement of intent that Africa’s digital future will be built through collaboration, innovation, and partnerships,” Okwiri said.
He noted that innovation ecosystems must be strengthened through financing, skills development, and commercialisation support to ensure sustainability.
“Innovation must be protected, commercialised, financed and supported through skills development if Africa’s startup ecosystem is to thrive,” he added.
Okwiri said Konza Technopolis is leveraging Kenya’s digital infrastructure and strategic geographic position to enable startups from North Africa to scale into East African and wider African markets.
A key highlight of the forum was the signing of a collaboration agreement between Konza Technopolis, RedStart Tunisie, and Seketak Solutions to formalise startup exchange programmes and joint acceleration initiatives across participating regions.
RedStart Tunisie Chief Executive Officer Douja Gharbi said the partnership will help unlock scalable opportunities for African entrepreneurs across borders.
“We return to Kenya to deepen collaboration, align roadmaps and create scalable pathways that support startup growth across borders,” Gharbi said.
She emphasised the importance of long-term cooperation between innovation ecosystems in driving continental growth.
“Strong partnerships between ecosystems are essential if we are to build resilient startups capable of scaling across Africa and beyond,” she added.
The discussions at the forum focused on easing market entry barriers, improving access to early-stage and growth financing, and harmonising regulatory frameworks to support cross-border digital trade under the AfCFTA framework.
Participants also explored strategies for strengthening innovation ecosystems in fintech, agritech, healthtech, and digital infrastructure, with emphasis on scaling African startups beyond domestic markets.
The event came a day after President William Ruto assented to the Technopolis Bill, 2024, which establishes a legal framework for the development and governance of technopolises across Kenya. The law is expected to attract technology-driven enterprises and enhance Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional innovation hub.
Stakeholders said the new legislation will improve regulatory clarity and strengthen investor confidence in Kenya’s innovation ecosystem, particularly around key hubs such as Konza Technopolis.
Organisers said the IPDAYS forum will continue to serve as a platform for knowledge exchange among African innovation ecosystems, aimed at accelerating startup growth and cross-border collaboration.
Konza Technopolis reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Kenya as a leading continental innovation hub, noting that sustained partnerships between governments, private sector actors, and development partners will be key to unlocking Africa’s startup potential.
The forum concluded with renewed commitments from participating organisations to expand collaboration programmes and support the growth of scalable African startups capable of competing in global markets.
