The curtains have come down on the 2018 Connected Summit after three days of mingling and sharing invaluable insights on the ICT sector by government officials, legislators the corporate sector as well as academia.
The three-day annual conference, convened by the Ministry of ICT and hosted by the ICT Authority, was held at Bomas of Kenya from 22nd-24th October 2018. During the opening ceremony, ICT Cabinet Secretary, Hon Joe Mucheru launched the WhiteBox, an initiative that provides a platform through which entrepreneurs can present their ideas and receive government support on incubation and other aspects.
The objective of Connected Kenya forum is to encourage conversations around the creation of ICT innovations, the diffusion of ICT and innovations as well enabling the legislative and policy framework need for ICT to enable the country’s economic growth. It is the biggest platform that brings together great minds- innovators, policy makers and users, both local and international, in the ICT sector.
The outcomes of the Connected Kenya 2018 will hugely contribute to the successful attainment of The Big Four agenda namely: Manufacturing, food security, Universal healthcare and affordable housing.
Other key areas explored during this year’s event include emerging technologies such as Blockchain, Internet of Things, big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Sector also agreed on the need to fasttrack ICT Bills and the need to co share ICT infrastructure for efficiency and cost saving.
The 2018 Connected Kenya tech forum which was the 10th of the annual events saw the participation of representatives of:
(a) 25 sponsors with Telkom and Atlanics Technologies as platinum sponsors
(b) 14 counties namely Nandi, Busia, Uasin Gishu, Tharaka Nithi, Makueni, Marsabit,Trans Nzoia, Nakuru, Wajir, Garissa, Migori, West Pokot, Samburu and Mandera
(c) Big Four Ministries as well as the Ministry of Trade
(d) 17 state corporations including NEMA, EACC, NTSA, KWS, KAA, Kenya Dairy Board, among others
(e) Academia: Moi University, JKUAT, Machakos University, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University and Meru University
The final day of the summit also hosted the ICT innovation awards where the following were announced as winners in the respective categories:
| Category | Company | Product | NAME |
| Agriculture | Engoho Kuku farmer | Engoho | Gervase Wakoli |
| Business Process Outsourcing | Galena Media | M-Foleni | Bernard Oduor |
| Education & Training | PDTP Portal | Internship Management Portal | Patrick Mutuku |
| Environment | JIJI SAFI ENTERPRISES | REAL TIME GARBAGE MONITORING SERVICES | Masha Felkin |
| Financial Services | Data Integrated Limited | MobiTillEpesi Smart Public Transport | Mary Mwangi |
| Gender, Youth & Vulnerable Groups | ANISAN | NDOVU CARE | Sandra Maryanne |
| Health care Delivery | Pearl Medicare and Equipment Ltd | M-Tibu Digital Healthcare Platform | Gerald Makori |
| Housing & Urbanization | one touch interactive | M-Rent | Steve Ngethe |
| Manufacturing | Paytree Group Ltd | Paytree | DayveeNgugi |
| Social Equity | ICTA | Good Conduct Generation | Oscar Raha |
| Tourism | Cloud Nine Experiences Limited | Cloud9xp | MutethiaMbaabu
|
| Water & Sanitation | SHOFCO | Community Development | Wangu J Mwangi
|
| Wholesale & Retail Trade | Movetech Solutions Ltd | Cloudbased POS | Evans Mwiti |
