Kenya’s digital transformation agenda is entering a new phase, with government leaders calling for a stronger focus on connected public services, interoperable systems and citizen-centred outcomes rather than simply increasing the number of digital services available online.
These discussions took centre stage at the Smart Government Summit 2026, organised by CIO Africa by dx5 in Nairobi under the theme, “Building Across Seams: Integrated Public Infrastructure for Connected Government.” The summit brought together senior government officials, policymakers, development partners, technology leaders and private sector stakeholders to explore how digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cybersecurity and digital identity can transform public service delivery across Africa.
Opening the summit, CIO Africa by dx5 Chairman Harry Hare said governments must move beyond digitising services and focus on execution, secure data sharing and system integration to meet rising citizen expectations. He noted that citizens increasingly compare government services with the seamless digital experiences provided by banks, e-commerce platforms and mobile applications, making implementation the defining factor in successful digital transformation.
Speaking during the summit, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Cabinet Affairs Dr Idris Dokota highlighted Kenya’s rapid progress in digital government, noting that the country has expanded from approximately 300 digitised government services in 2022 to more than 22,000 today. He, however, stressed that citizens ultimately measure government performance by service outcomes rather than technology itself. Dokota identified fragmented government data systems as one of the biggest barriers to integrated service delivery and called for stronger interoperability, improved data sharing and better execution of national digital strategies.
Delivering the keynote address, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Dr Belio Kipsang outlined Kenya’s vision of building a fully integrated digital government centred around citizens rather than institutions. He said the country’s strategy is anchored on digital public infrastructure, interoperable government platforms, trusted digital identity and citizen-focused service delivery.
A major highlight of the keynote was the Maisha Ecosystem, Kenya’s next-generation digital identity programme. The initiative introduces the Maisha Number, a lifelong unique digital identifier that will eventually transition into the National Identity Card at age 18. The government also announced plans to roll out electronic birth notifications that will integrate hospitals with the Civil Registration System, enabling newborns to receive a digital identity immediately after birth while strengthening identity verification and improving access to government services.
Throughout the summit, speakers agreed that the future of smart government will depend on stronger collaboration between public institutions, secure data exchange, trusted digital identity systems and practical implementation of digital transformation initiatives. Discussions also explored AI governance, cloud adoption, cybersecurity, digital sovereignty and digital public infrastructure as governments across Africa continue modernising public service delivery.
