Konza Technopolis has hosted the inaugural Thrive, Elevate, and Celebrate (TEC) Women Summit 2026 in a bold move aimed at narrowing the gender gap within Kenya’s fast-growing technology sector.

Held at Africa’s renowned “Silicon Savannah,” the summit brought together a distinguished audience of government officials, private sector leaders, and digital innovators to confront the persistent disparities facing women in the digital economy.

The event underscored both the immense potential and the stark inequalities that continue to define women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

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Addressing the gathering, John Paul Okwiri, CEO of Konza Technopolis, delivered a compelling call to action, positioning women as central drivers of Kenya’s future economic growth.

“Kenya’s digital transformation will only be complete when each woman, regardless of her background, her location, or her resources, has an equal opportunity to take her place at the digital and creative economy opportunity table,” Okwiri said.

The summit highlighted a sobering reality: while women make up 51 per cent of Kenya’s population, they remain significantly underrepresented in the digital and creative industries. Across Africa, women account for only 30 to 35 per cent of participation in STEM and ICT sectors.

Even more striking is the funding gap—despite founding approximately 15 per cent of tech startups in Sub-Saharan Africa, women-led ventures receive less than three per cent of available venture capital.

“These figures are not just statistics; they represent missed opportunities for innovation, growth, and inclusive prosperity,” Okwiri noted. “Unlocking equal participation for women could contribute up to 12 trillion US dollars to global economic growth.”

At the heart of Konza’s strategy to address these disparities is the “Silicon Savannah Woman” initiative, launched a year ago with the ambitious goal of supporting at least 100,000 women and girls within Kenya’s digital ecosystem.

The programme is built on three key pillars; connecting women through strong professional networks, equipping them with technical skills and resources, and empowering them to take on leadership roles that influence national digital policy.

Okwiri emphasised that Konza Technopolis is striving to lead by example. The organization has met and exceeded Kenya’s Constitutional Two-Thirds Gender Rule, with its Board of Directors achieving gender parity.

Women also head several critical departments, including Legal, Physical Planning, Business Development, and Marketing.

“This is not just about policy compliance—it is about demonstrating what is possible when inclusion is intentional,” he said.

The CEO also directed part of his message to male leaders and stakeholders, urging them to actively support gender equality efforts, including the global HeForShe campaign.

“Progress will remain slow until men stand alongside women as true partners in driving change,” Okwiri stated. “When women rise, entire industries rise. When women succeed, communities thrive.”

Participants at the summit echoed the urgency of the call, stressing that bridging the gender gap is not only a matter of equity but also a strategic imperative for Kenya’s ambition to become a leading digital economy in Africa.