Kenya has officially launched the TechPlomacy Connective, a multi-stakeholder diplomatic and innovation platform aimed at integrating diplomacy and technology to address global challenges in the digital era.
The event, held in Nairobi, was presided over by the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi and brought together key actors from diplomatic missions, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate on shaping an inclusive, safe, and trustworthy global digital ecosystem.
In his keynote address, Mudavadi highlighted the strategic role of technology diplomacy in Kenya’s foreign policy and development agenda, terming it a catalyst for regional growth and sustainable digital transformation.
“Kenya’s Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025 places technology diplomacy at the core of our international engagement; therefore, we aim to transform Nairobi into a global multilateral and financial hub,” assured Mudavadi.
He further highlighted Kenya’s pioneering contributions in global digital policy, including its role as the only African country in the International Network of AI-Safety Institutes and its leadership in championing the first-ever United Nations resolution on artificial intelligence.
The TechPlomacy Connective will serve as a collaborative framework for policymakers, tech leaders, and civil society to co-create inclusive and ethical digital policies.
The initiative is also expected to foster regional innovation through public-private partnerships and knowledge-sharing platforms.
Mudavadi announced several joint initiatives already in motion, including the establishment of a sustainable AI coalition with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the launch of Africa’s first AI factory in collaboration with Cassava Technologies, and Kenya’s recent appointment as co-facilitator of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Plasticity Process alongside Albania.
Calling for a global reimagination of multilateralism, he emphasised that Kenya is well-positioned to be a hub for cross-sector digital cooperation.
“With over 300 startups, global tech giants, and world-class incubators, Nairobi is powering Africa’s Silicon Savannah with renewable energy and innovative solutions,” he noted.
Making his remarks, Ambassador Philip Thigo, Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, echoed the urgency of moving beyond talk to tangible action.
“The digital future belongs to everyone, but only if it’s built on resilience, safety, trust, and inclusion, as initiative is about empowering nations and ensuring that emerging technologies are developed with a human-first approach,” advised Thigo.
Amb Thigo stressed that tech-diplomacy must address more than technical aspects, it must uphold human rights, digital equity, and sustainability.
He also emphasised cybersecurity and data governance as critical components of modern diplomatic relations.
Concurrently, Dr. Amandeep Gill, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, joined the session virtually from New York and lauded Kenya’s leadership in technology diplomacy, urging countries to unite in building equitable AI governance frameworks.
“A third of the world’s future tech talent will come from Africa, but Africa holds less than 1 percent of global data center capacity. That gap is morally and practically untenable,” stated Dr Gill.
He highlighted the Global Digital Compact, adopted at last year’s UN Summit of the Future, as a milestone in creating an inclusive digital order.
Dr Gill also announced plans for an international scientific panel on AI and a policy dialogue involving 117 countries currently outside major AI governance initiatives.
“It’s a basic issue of democratic participation,” said Dr. Gill. “AI rules must be shaped by everyone, not just a few.”
Meanwhile, according to a concept paper circulated at the event, the TechPlomacy Connective aims to position Kenya as a global epicenter for digital policy.
Its core pillars include inclusive global tech governance, multilateral innovation platforms, digital equity, and talent mobility.
Further, the initiative supports Kenya’s broader ambition to leverage diplomacy as a tool for regional development.
With 93 foreign missions and over 140 international organisations based in Nairobi, the country’s capital is being positioned as a convening ground for technology and global policy thought leaders.
The event culminated with a call for unified action to bridge digital divides and ensure that technological advancement becomes a shared resource for progress.
As countries grapple with the dual promise and danger of emerging technologies, Kenya’s TechPlomacy Connective aims to be a lighthouse, illuminating a path toward ethical innovation, inclusive prosperity, and sustainable development.
By Kamau Daniel
