Kenya is set to
host the Global Data Festival in 2026, a major international gathering expected
to draw over 3,000 participants from around the world. The announcement was
made by Ambassador Philip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology for the President
of the Republic of Kenya, following a high-level host committee meeting.
The festival is
being organized in partnership with the Global Partnership for Sustainable
Development Data (GPSDD), the Kenya Space Agency, and the Kenya National Bureau
of Statistics (KNBS). It aims to showcase practical data solutions for pressing
global challenges, including climate action, health, food security, artificial
intelligence, and space-based intelligence.
Discussions at
the host committee meeting focused on Kenya’s state of preparedness and its
strategic leadership in the data and intelligence era. Key reflections included
building the resilience of African data communities through enhanced capacity,
innovation, and collaboration, as well as amplifying multi-stakeholder
engagement across governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society.
Ambassador
Thigo noted the festival’s role as a golden moment for Africa to shape global
conversations on how data and emerging technologies can serve people and the
planet. The event will provide a platform to strengthen international
cooperation and position Kenya—and the continent—at the forefront of
data-driven sustainable development.
By: Kanto Kai Okanta
