Safaricom Chief Executive Peter Ndegwa engages with exhibitors during the Safaricom Decode East Africa Launch in Nairobi on March 18, 2025/ ENOS TECHEArtificial intelligence (AI), bots, and virtual assistance were the talk of town during the launch of Safaricom’s Decode East Africa Expo.
Students, engineers, and other professionals were all hooked at the exhibitions to learn the finer details of technology.
Visitors were treated to a face-to-face view of how the service provider partnered with technological firms to enhance service delivery.
The participants were treated to a showcase of the country’s and Safaricom’s engineering practices and products in fintech, such as the Virtual Reality experiences and games, and other innovations from partners and sponsors.
The third edition of the annual Safaricom Engineering Summit provided a platform for young engineers, scientists, tech enthusiasts, innovators, and stakeholders to engage in knowledge exchange, and discussions and envision the future of engineering.
Among the exhibitions included Safaricom, Huawei, and Oracle among many others.
Speaking during the event, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the innovations impact the everyday lives of Kenyans and beyond.
He added that through technological innovations, the firm delivers value to customers, saying it is the “core of the strategy.”.
“As we embark on an insightful conversation showcasing the engagement, it is instructive to know that you are attending this at the backdrop of just a new vision that we have come up with, which was approved last year of being Africa’s leading technology company by 2030,” he said.
The CEO said the three-day forum will focus on advanced technology, AI, energy transition, and sustainable infrastructure in the industry.
“This year’s summit is a dynamic platform that empowers Safaricom engineers to showcase their technical prowess and connect with the broader tech community. It is a testament to our commitment to being the technology partner of choice for young innovators on the digital landscape,” Ndegwa said.
The summit will see more than 10,000 attendees physically present, while thousands others will follow the proceedings online.
In three days, the summit will feature presentations by industry experts in different fields who will share how emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are reshaping business operations and amplifying human potential in all spheres of life.
“Safaricom plays a pivotal role in Kenya’s digital and tech ecosystem and extends its influence far beyond our borders. As a customer-obsessed, digital-first organization, we recognise that the engineering community is the architect of such customer-centric solutions," Ndegwa said.
"Through initiatives like Safaricom Decode, we will continue to empower the community to showcase their exceptional skills and exchange knowledge on best practices, so that we can cement our place as a technology hub."
One of the participants, Phenny Mwaisaka, a student from Meru University pursuing mathematics and computer science, said the first day of the summit renewed her spirits to advance her engineering course.
According to her, interacting with people from the technology space was an inspiration and a learning experience.
“I decided to give computer science a chance, and I loved it. Look where I am today. This will be the beginning of a great journey. Currently, I use Java Spring Boot. I do backend development using Spring Boot,” she said.
For Ian Mongare, a student at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology pursuing mechanical engineering, his passion for technology was renewed from the insightful conversations held.
“I got someone who encouraged me to pursue technology; it was hard at first, but I got to interact and share with people who boosted my confidence and love for technology.”
Safaricom Decode serves as a platform to showcase engineering excellence, cutting-edge technology advancements, and thought leadership while also emphasizing the alignment with national strategies, the promotion of financial inclusion, and the responsible use of technology, all in pursuit of shaping Kenya's digital future.
