Governor, County Government of Muran’ga

Dr. Helen Titilola Olojede
100 Brilliant Women in Africa Ethics (2024)
Ethical AI Advisory Council | Climate Change Ethics/Justice | AI & Gender | EdTech Ethics Teacher & Researcher | Knowledgeable in Higher Education.
Acting Head of the Department of Philosophy at the National Open University of Nigeria.
Speaker

Helen Titilola Olojede is a Lecturer and the Acting Head of the Department of Philosophy at the National Open University of Nigeria. She is a member of the Ethical Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council of the Centre for Practical Bioethics, USA. She is a consultant in AI for the Development trainee program. Her research interests span Bioethics, Ethics/Epistemology of AI, Feminist AI, and African and Gender philosophy. She has published articles in learned academic journals. Aside from core philosophy, Titilola loves social advocacy championing especially the causes of women and children. She is the Nigerian representative for women in AI Africa. Titilola was named 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics for 2024.

Dr. (Eng.) John K. Mosonik

Board Director
Safaricom PLC
Panelist

Dr. (Eng.) John Kipngetich Mosonik, CBS, EBS has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director in the Board, with effect from 23rd August 2023.

Dr. (Eng.) Mosonik is an astute technocrat with executive experience in both public and private sector administration spanning 35 years. He has a rich career profile stretching across industries from Engineering practice in the Telecom sector to serving as a Principal Secretary in the State Department for Infrastructure and the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining.

He holds a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration (DBA) – Strategic Leadership from Northcentral University (USA) and a PhD in Business Administration (Strategic Management) from Moi University, Kenya. He also holds Postgraduate Degrees in Digital Transformation, Strategic Focus, Finance and Business Administration from renowned international universities; and Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering/Telecommunication from the University of Nairobi. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (FIEK) and a registered member of the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). 

Prof. Busalile Jack Mwimali,
Editor/ Chief Executive Officer
National Council for Law Reporting(Kenya Law)
Speaker

Prof. Mwimali is the Editor /CEO of the National Council for Law Reporting.(Kenya Law) He is in charge of the overall delivery of Kenya Law’s mandate.
As Editor, Prof. Busalile is responsible for ensuring that all Kenya Law’s legal publications are of quality and meets the expectations of the Kenyan public. As CEO, he has overall responsibility for the day to day administrative duties of Kenya Law.

Prof. Mwimali holds a PhD in Law from the University of Birmingham, Master of Laws from Lund University and Bachelor of Laws from Mysore University. He has taught law at the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Birmingham University, among other institutions of higher learning.
He is a member of the Law Society of Kenya.

Mercy Omollo

President
ISACA Kenya Chapter

Mercy Omollo is the current ISACA Kenya President and Board Chair where she leads the other Board members to craft the strategy and vision of the Chapter and provide oversight on the running of the Chapter Operations through the Secretariat.

She is a seasoned technology leader with over 13 years of experience in Risk and Audit as an executive holding various positions over the years in the fields of governance, risk management, audits and assurance as well as business process controls improvement.

She is currently the Risk Manager (Head) at Liberty Kenya Insurance and was previously the Head of IT Internal Audit at Liberty Kenya and Uganda (East Africa). As the Head of risk, she is responsible for overseeing the management of Enterprise Risk, IT, Information security and cyber security across the Liberty subsidiaries within the region. Prior to joining Liberty, she had worked as a Senior Consultant with Deloitte East Africa’s Risk advisory (RA) practice with over five years of experience in various IT assurance and GRC advisory engagements.

She currently serves on various ISACA Global Working committees such as CISA and CRISC Exam Item Writing Working Group and the CDPSE QAE Item Writing Group. She also serves at the IIA Global Professional Certifications Board (PCB) and as a member of the IIA Kenya Board of Trustees. She is passionate about women in tech and is also a Member of the Women in Cybersecurity, (WiCyS) East Africa affiliate.

She has presented as a seasoned speaker, panelist and moderator and in various forums such as the ISACA Kenya Chapter Conferences, regional level event or  joint ISACA chapter events (Uganda, Nigeria, Namibia) and other cyber security forums such as Women in Cybersecurity, (WiCyS) East Africa.

She holds an MBA from University of London, a BSc. Business Information Technology (BBIT) from JKUAT, is a CIA, CISA, CRISC and CDPSE certifications holder.

Mr. Joe Ageyo
Editor In Chief
Nation Media Group PLC
Speaker

Joe is a talented journalist, media manager and debate moderator, with wide experience spanning more than 24 years. He has covered major local and international news events and presided over the coverage of four General Elections and two national referenda in Kenya. He has played critical roles in Kenya’s presidential debates including co-moderating three of them. He has previously worked at Royal Media Services as Editorial Director, the Standard Group as Managing Editor (KTN News) and the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) as a Senior Reporter. He is a PhD candidate in Communication at Daystar University and holds an MSc (Environmental Governance) from the University of Manchester, a Bachelor of Agribusiness Management from Egerton University, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Nairobi, and an Advanced Certificate in Environmental Diplomacy from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.                        

Grzegorz “Greg” Piechota
Researcher-in-Residence at the International News Media Association (INMA)
Speaker

Grzegorz “Greg” Piechota is a researcher-in-residence at the International News Media Association and the lead of INMA’s strategic initiatives: Readers First and INMA Benchmarks.

An ex-research fellow at Oxford and Harvard universities, he studied technology-enabled disruption patterns across industries and business model innovation in news media. Occasionally, he lectures on business model innovation and digital transformation, e.g., in 2023 at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Greg is a former media executive with 20+ years of industry experience, beginning at Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza in 1996 where he worked his way up from local reporter to news editor and vice president of Agora Foundation. 

He serves on boards of non-profits, publishing groups and e-commerce companies in the U.K., Germany, Poland, and Ukraine. 

His book, Unlocking the Customer Value Chain, written with Thales Teixeira of Harvard Business School, was published in 2019 by Currency.

Hartnell Ndungi
Chief Data Officer
ABSA Group
Panelist 

Hartnell Ndungi was the first Chief Data Officer to be appointed in East and Central Africa. In the banking and financial services sector, he has been able to master the development and execution of key data and digital strategies for banks, FinTechs and  large financial institutions.

He is Absa Kenya’s Chief Data Officer and he leads the bank’s artificial intelligence, data science, data governance, BI and analytics teams. Previously, he worked as a senior data consultant, providing advisory and analytics services to governments, banks, insurance firms and telecom companies. He has also led and set up data teams for top banks in Africa.

With a deep understanding of AI, data management and digital transformation, Ndungi seeks to ensure that organizations are able to set up dynamic data teams, understand the data they hold, harness actionable insights and deliver key use cases that drive profitability, operational efficiency, growth and transformation.

He holds a Leadership certificate from IMD Switzerland, a master’s degree in analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology, an executive data science specialization from Johns Hopkins University and a degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Moi University.

Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu
Head Data Protection
KCB
Panelist

Joseph Lunani
CECM Public Service Management & Information and Communications Technology
County Government of Vihiga
Panelist

Joseph Lunani, a seasoned County Executive Member for Public Service Management & ICT in Vihiga County, brings 15+ years of expertise in digital transformation, leadership, and technology governance. Certified in CISA, CCNA, CEH, and MCP, his journey includes optimizing public service management through innovative technological solutions.

Engaged in community service and mentoring at Nailab, Joseph’s diverse client list encompasses Vihiga County Government, Silverstone Air, KEMSA, UNCTAD14, and Elle Interior Designers. His passionate leadership in ICT focuses on enhancing service delivery, contributing significantly to Vihiga County’s progress and development in Strategy, Management, Customer Experience, and Technology & Governance solutions.

Kenneth Oyolla
Chief Commercial Officer
Nation Media Group PLC
Speaker

Kenneth joined NMG from Jumia Limited, where he served in a similar capacity. He has a wealth of industry experience, having held senior leadership positions at the Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), Multichoice, Nokia, Microsoft and Unilever. He is a seasoned professional with experience in business strategy, commercial, brand management, product marketing, business development and E-commerce. Kenneth holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nairobi and is pursuing an Executive MBA at the London Business School.

Andrew  Barden
Lead Organizer
Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS)
Panelist

Andrew W. Barden is the Lead Organizer & Content Director for the Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS) – the largest Pan-African financial technology summit hosted each year in a new African city. Andrew is dedicated to advancing financial technology in Africa because he believes that fintech plays an important role in advancing meaningful financial inclusion and sustainable economic development across the continent. With AFTS, Andrew has brokered partnerships between various central banks, supported startup entrepreneurs with equity fundraising, and advised numerous multinational companies with new market expansion. Beyond the Africa Fintech Summit, Andrew also leads The Kenyan Wall Street, a new-age media company in Nairobi covering business and finance developments in East Africa. Earlier in his career, Andrew was the Director of Insights at Dedalus Global, a go-to-market advisory firm focused on the Global South and based in Washington, DC. Andrew graduated cum laude from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia having studied Business Economics and Mathematics. 

Odipo Sharola
Founder 
Women in AI Africa (WAIA)
Panelist

Ms. Odipo is the Founder of Women in AI Africa (WAIA), a non-profit organization spearheading the charge to bridge the gender gap in the booming AI field. WAIA empowers women across Africa through:

• Capacity-building programs: Equipping women with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the AI ecosystem.
• Targeted training workshops: Providing practical guidance and industry insights to unlock career potential.
• Creating a supportive network: Fostering a community of like-minded women to share ideas, collaborate, and inspire each other.

Her dedication and leadership have earned her recognition on prestigious platforms, including:

• Keynote speaker at the 2023 African AI Summit: Sharing her vision for a more inclusive AI future.
• Invited speaker at Kenya Innovation Week, Commonwealth Chapter: Showcasing WAIA’s impactful work on the national stage, and advocating for gender equality in tech across the Commonwealth nations.
• Featured speaker at eDigital Connect: Inspiring a wider audience with her message of empowerment through AI.
• Featured speaker at the Rotary Club: Creating awareness about capacity development in the AI landscape.

Beyond WAIA: Ms. Odipo is also the founder and Managing Partner of Akoth Odipo Law, a boutique law firm catering to a diverse clientele, both local and international. Her firm provides:

• Comprehensive legal services: Advising clients on a wide range of legal matters.
• Strategic guidance: Helping businesses navigate the legal landscape with confidence.
• Exceptional client service: Building strong relationships based on trust and understanding.

George Njuguna
Chief Information Officer
Safaricom 

Case Study

George Njuguna,MBS is the Director, Digital & Information Technology (CIO) of Safaricom PLC. Prior to joining Safaricom, he worked at Housing Finance Group as the Chief Operating Officer. Before this, he worked at Commercial Bank of Africa as the Head of Information Technology.

He has 23 years experience in IT, and 18 years experience in Banking and Financial Services, specifically in technology, operations, product development, project management, channel management, digital transformation and large-scale implementations.

During his illustrious career, he has held various technical and senior management roles locally, regionally and internationally. The impact is showcased by the several awards he has received including CIO of the Year, East Africa (2018), inducted into East Africa CIO Hall of Fame (2019), named one of the Broadband 50 to Watch “A list of influential leaders, innovators and disruptors who are connecting the world” (2021) and in 2022 received the Vodacom Leadership Award for Living our Purpose to create Inclusion for All, CIO 200 Global Leader Award and recognition among the Top 40 under 40 influential men in Kenya by Business Daily. In 2023, he pioneered and brought to life, the biggest and iconic Engineering Summit in Africa, Safaricom Decode 2.0. He also leads the Industry Digital Talent Program by safaricom in conjunction with several stakeholders in the industry. 2023 culminated with him being awarded Moran of the order of the Burning Spear (MBS) by the President of Kenya.

His career success is anchored on people and purpose.

William Baraza
Director
African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI)
Panelist and Facilitator


William Baraza is the Director and CEO of the African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) and Chairman of the Africa Cyber Defense Forum (ACDF) Advisory Board. With over 25 years in IT and telecommunications across Sub-Saharan Africa, he possesses extensive leadership experience, driving high-level ICT strategies and collaborating with multinational corporations like Nokia Networks, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, and CommScope. Currently pursuing a PhD in Strategic Information Systems, William holds an MBA and a B.Sc. in Computer Science. Beyond his professional pursuits, he enjoys golf and hodophilia.

Sam K. Mwangi
Digital Marketing Strategist, Trainer, and Keynote Speaker
Founder of Socialmeds Digital
Speaker

Sam K. Mwangi, a Digital Marketing Strategist, Trainer, and Keynote Speaker, is the founder of Socialmeds Digital with over 8 years of experience and 80+ brands in his portfolio. His expertise encompasses marketing strategy, brand development, campaign execution, audience engagement, training, and workshops. A strategic thinker, Sam prioritizes the consumer’s benefit in his marketing approach. With a 4.9-star Google Rank, he has conducted 15+ workshops and masterclasses, focusing on key sectors like Manufacturing, Retail, FMCG, and Finance. His mantra, “It’s not the best products that sell the most, but the best marketed products,” underscores his commitment to crafting impactful marketing campaigns.

Fiona Asonga
CEO
Technology Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK)
Panelist

Currently the Chief Executive Officer of a non-governmental, not-for-profit Technology Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) that operates the Kenya Internet Exchange Point and Industry Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Have 16 years’ experience working in the ICT sector in Kenya 10 of which have been spent at TESPOK as a liaison for the private sector with governments in the East Africa region on ICT policy and regulations.

In 2018 developed a training program on Collaborative Governance under the Internet Society that was run at the USTTI, Washington DC. From 2011 to 2018 was one of the three African representatives on the Number Resource Organization – Number Council and role on the NRO involved coordinating Numbering Resource issues across the five Regional Internet Registries.  She also doubled as a member of the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Address Supporting Organization- Address Council where we coordinate the development of Global Numbering Resource Policy Development.

A keen advocate of ICT for development and multi-stakeholder engagement for digital development and has been appointed in 2022 as part of the Executive Council of the UN IIGF Supporting organization.

Francis Waithaka
CEO, Digital For Africa Ltd
Facilitator

Francis Waithaka is the founder and CEO of Digital For Africa Ltd, a leading provider of digital marketing solutions and training for businesses in Africa. With over 24 years of experience in various fields including technology and digital marketing. He is a certified digital marketing trainer and has served over 250 brands in Africa, including The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Nation Media Group, KCB, and Naivas. As a passionate trainer and mentor, he has taught and coached many entrepreneurs and marketers at various institutions. As a visionary leader, he believes in the power of digital transformation for Africa.

Ken Mbuki
Business Intelligence Analyst and Data Culture Lead
Moringa School
Facilitator

Ken Mbuki, a seasoned Business Intelligence Expert and Consultant with 8+ years’ experience, currently works as a Business Intelligence Analyst and Data Culture Lead at Moringa School. He’s a published author, part-time IT Tutor at KCA University, and has led successful consultancies for top Kenyan firms. Known for his expertise in IT, Big Data, and Digital Strategy, Ken excels in conducting workshops, masterclasses, and presentations. His proficiency in data ethics and governance makes him a valuable asset in the field.

Mutembei Kariuki,
Founder and CEO
Fastagger

Mutembei Kariuki is a Kenyan Tech entrepreneur, CEO, and co-founder of Fastagger, an AI company. He has previous experience as a Senior Advisor for the German Development Cooperation on Digital Transformation. Mutembei has been interested in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership development and worked with organizations in Kenya, Austria, India, and Japan. He has been involved in social entrepreneurship through AIESEC and worked in Brazil, India, and The Philippines to support social enterprises with Potencia Ventures. His passion for Technology then led him to Japan where he was part of the transfer of technology to Kenya by building a partnership between Japanese companies, Kenya, and the Japanese governments. He also spent this time learning about emerging technologies such as Quantum computing, AI, Blockchain, the Internet of Things, and 3D printing that he believes will radically improve the quality of life for humanity. Mutembei holds degrees in Economics and Information Systems. A fun fact is that he has been part of a social reality TV show called Imagine Afrika that took him to South Africa, Mozambique, and Rwanda and was broadcast in over 40 countries as part of an African Media initiative to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Oliver Mathenge
Managing Editor (Audiences and Engagement)
Nation Media Group PLC
Speaker

Oliver Mathenge is the Managing Editor (Audiences and Engagement) at Nation Media Group in Nairobi, Kenya, overseeing digital publishing and social strategy. With prior roles as Multimedia Editor at Nation Media Group and Digital Editor at Radio Africa Group, he has extensive experience in digital operations. Starting as a News Journalist in 2007, Oliver has a background in developing news and features, particularly in politics. Additionally, he serves as a digital journalism trainer for WAN-IFRA’s Women in News Digital ABC programme.

Ellen Kamau
Managing Director
Vista Primer Solutions
Speaker

Ellen Kamau is an accomplished Software Engineer and Founder of Vista Prime Solutions Ltd, boasts a Ph.D. in Management & Leadership, an MBA in Strategic Management, and a B.Sc. in Computing and Information Systems. Specializing in security policy formulation, database administration, and ERP systems implementation, Ellen excels in strategy, change management, and team leadership.

As Managing Director, she has effectively trained and implemented ERP systems for diverse clients, including significant projects with CWS/Refugee Settlement Centre Africa, Carepay Limited, RCMRD, National Crime Research Centre, and the Kenya School of Government. Ellen’s strategic leadership and project coordination have been instrumental in achieving successful outcomes, such as the 2022 implementation and migration to Microsoft Navision for all five campuses of the Kenya School of Government. Her dynamic approach and technological expertise position her as a leader and authority in the field.

Stephen Kahuria
Senior Support Specialist
Red Dot Distribution
Facilitator

Stephen K. Kahuria is a cloud engineer and consultant with six years of experience in the Insurance and Software distribution industries.

He specializes in architecting, operating, and developing cloud solutions using Azure.

He also has an interest in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Digital Transformation.

Ken Mwenda

Co-Founder and Managing Director,
eMobilis
Panelist

Ken Mwenda Gikunda is the Co-founder and Managing Director of eMobilis Technology Institute, an award-winning 13-year-old Technology and Digital Training Institution and incubation Hub in Nairobi, Kenya. Ken holds an MBA from the University of Victoria with an International Exchange at Edhec in Lille, France and a bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University in Canada.

Ken is passionate about empowerment of young people, impactful skills development, and equipping young people for the future of work, enabling them to access technology and digital opportunities both locally and globally. He has worked for technology firms, industry associations, and a Chamber of Commerce in Canada before moving back to Kenya and working in the banking field for 4 years, including at Citibank and Absa (formerly Barclays). He also has over 12 years of experience in the Education and Training sector.

In 2012, he was selected for the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which included an Innovation Summit in Washington and a 2-week Mentorship program in Chicago. He is a speaker at several universities and has been a judge at several forums.

 In 2013, he was selected as an Acumen East Africa Fellow and the following year (2014) was named in the Institut Choiseul’s Top 100 Africans, a study that identifies and ranks the top 100 young African economic leaders of tomorrow. 

iHub also acknowledged him as a Top 100 contributor to Kenya’s technology community in 2015. 

He has also been involved in mentoring young men and women through the Presidential Digital Talent Program and has previously been a Project Lead on several software development builds.

Ken is an active thought leader involved in supporting and co-designing digital economy interventions. This includes the implementation of the Government of Kenya’s Ajira Digital program; an initiative driven by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy with the strategic support of the Mastercard Foundation to position Kenya as one of the top freelancing and BPO hubs in the world. The program targets to equip over 1million young people annually with digital work readiness skills to earn a dignified income through digital and digitally-enabled work. 

Through this program over 270, 000 young women and men have been equipped with basic, crosscutting and advanced digital skills, 53% of whom are young women and a further 600+ acquired AWS Cloud practitioner certification.