AfrInnovation Festival 2025 kicks off

The morning began with Thomas Airo (TJ) moderating the opening session, which featured a moving performance by cultural activist‑artist Muhonja. James Owino Okoth, Chief Growth Officer of Anza Village, outlined the festival’s purpose: to “exchange ideas, spark innovation and nurture collaboration across Africa.” He introduced Wahome Wangechi, CEO of Anza Village, whose address underscored the need to root technological progress in African heritage. “We must be authentically us, even in the tech spaces,” she said before officially opening the summit.

Academic leadership was represented by Professor Robert Gateru, Vice‑Chancellor of Riara University, who called for a curriculum overhaul that blends transdisciplinary learning with real‑world problem solving. Gateru highlighted the university’s upcoming campus in Konza, branding it the innovation centre of Africa. “The future of the continent lies in our hands,” he remarked.

Industry perspectives followed. Dr George Wanjala of the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) outlined the institute’s portfolio ranging from renewable‑energy solutions to additive manufacturing and urged attendees to devise “innovative solutions to problems existing in our country and the world at large.” Victor Oluoch Otieno of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) then explained the regulator’s sandbox framework, its financial‑support mechanisms and the possibility of partnering with Riara on curriculum development. He concluded by reading a prepared statement from the absent CMA CEO.

After the plenary, participants broke into specialised masterclasses. The blockchain track, co‑hosted by Busha and TechRift Africa, featured Steve Kimoi, Maryanne Njuguna and Mary Usaji, who walked the audience through the technology’s fundamentals, real‑world use cases and a live demo of creating a crypto wallet. High‑performing attendees received branded swag, a gesture that echoed throughout the day’s exhibitor zone.

After the plenary, participants broke into specialised masterclasses. The blockchain track, sponsored by Busha and co-hosted by TechRift Africa, featured Chebet Kipingor, Steve Kimoi, Maryanne Njuguna and Mary Usaji. After walking the audience through the technology’s fundamentals and real‑world use cases, a live demo on how to use Busha Wallets, was led by Busha Operations Manager, Chebet Kipingor. Attendees who excelled during the session won USDT and exclusive branded merchandise, a gesture that echoed throughout the day’s exhibitor zone.

Meanwhile, the main arena hosted lively panel discussions on AI‑IoT advancements and the challenges of building and scaling African startups. Debates touched on data sovereignty, the readiness of local infrastructure for edge computing, and the role of venture capital in bridging the funding gap for early‑stage founders.

Exhibitors (who will be featured in a separate article) spanned the spectrum of Kenya’s tech landscape. Representatives from JHub Africa, Bosco Esquire, Arbarne, Healthy Basket, Wojo coworking spaces, Riara University, Uzapoint, The CubeHub, Zindua School, Siscom, Axcel Africa and Busha manned booths that blended product demos with cultural fare. Attendees sampled local snacks while swapping business cards, and several booths handed out promotional items to lucky participants.

The day concluded with a networking reception in the designated Networking Zone, where drinks and light refreshments facilitated informal conversations among investors, policymakers and entrepreneurs. Organisers hinted at an even richer agenda for Day 2, which will expand on digital transformation strategies and corporate innovation case studies.