NAIROBI, Kenya, May 18-Kenya is seeking to strengthen its position as Africa’s leading technology investment destination as startups unveil artificial intelligence solutions targeting some of the continent’s biggest structural challenges, from cross-border payments and construction inefficiencies to accessibility gaps in education and public services.
The push comes as Kenya attracted $1.04 billion (Sh134 billion) in tech investment in 2025, a 72 percent increase from the previous year, underlining Nairobi’s growing importance as a regional venture capital hub.
More than 100 investors managing over $6.4 trillion (Sh825 trillion) in assets are expected in Nairobi this week for the AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya summit, where startups are seeking funding, partnerships and regional expansion opportunities.
The summit, taking place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and Sarit Expo Centre, highlights a broader shift in Africa’s technology sector toward enterprise AI systems, industrial automation and digital infrastructure.
Among the firms exhibiting is Nairobi-based Aphorion Labs, which says it has developed an AI database system capable of running production-grade workloads on low-cost hardware, reducing dependence on expensive computing infrastructure.
“For too long, Africa has been a consumer of AI built elsewhere,” said Aphorion Labs founder Edwin Nguthiru.
“Aphorion Labs is positioning Africa as a producer of foundational AI systems, designed here, built here, and relevant globally.”
The company’s model reflects growing efforts by African developers to lower the cost of deploying AI systems in emerging markets, where access to advanced chips and large-scale data infrastructure remains limited.
Kenyan startup Signvrse is also targeting public institutions and corporates with an AI-powered sign language translation platform designed for healthcare, education and government services.
The firm uses speech recognition, natural language processing and 3D avatar technology to facilitate communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing users.
“By combining speech recognition, natural language processing, and generative AI with real-time 3D avatar translation, we are helping organisations build more inclusive digital systems at scale,” said Signvrse chief executive Elly Savatia.
Fintech firms are also using Nairobi as an entry point into East Africa’s digital payments market, where mobile money transaction values reached $806 billion (Sh104 trillion) in 2025.
Nigeria-based Strait Sahara is introducing a machine learning-powered cross-border payments platform aimed at reducing fraud, improving compliance and shortening settlement times for African payment corridors.
The company says Kenya and Uganda are its next target markets after establishing operations between Nigeria and Ghana.
“We did not start with a pitch deck. We started by making the corridor work,” said Strait Sahara founder Kele Okafor.
Construction technology is emerging as another investment theme as startups seek to modernise one of Africa’s largest but least digitised industries.
Nairobi-based Joritu is showcasing AI-driven planning and machinery coordination systems aimed at reducing project delays and lowering operational costs in the construction sector.
The summit will also feature the unveiling of AuraLearn, an AI-powered accessibility platform developed by Victor Wanja Innovations Hub (VWIH) for visually impaired students.
The platform converts complex visual content such as STEM diagrams and macroeconomic charts into interactive spatial audio for use in learning institutions.
“The future of the global economy is in data, but right now, heavy visual data is a locked door for visually impaired minds,” said VWIH founder Victor Kariuki Wanja
, where startups are seeking funding, partnerships and regional expansion opportunities.
The summit, taking place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and Sarit Expo Centre, highlights a broader shift in Africa’s technology sector toward enterprise AI systems, industrial automation and digital infrastructure.
Among the firms exhibiting is Nairobi-based Aphorion Labs, which says it has developed an AI database system capable of running production-grade workloads on low-cost hardware, reducing dependence on expensive computing infrastructure.
“For too long, Africa has been a consumer of AI built elsewhere,” said Aphorion Labs founder Edwin Nguthiru.
“Aphorion Labs is positioning Africa as a producer of foundational AI systems, designed here, built here, and relevant globally.”
The company’s model reflects growing efforts by African developers to lower the cost of deploying AI systems in emerging markets, where access to advanced chips and large-scale data infrastructure remains limited.
Kenyan startup Signvrse is also targeting public institutions and corporates with an AI-powered sign language translation platform designed for healthcare, education and government services.
The firm uses speech recognition, natural language processing and 3D avatar technology to facilitate communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing users.
“By combining speech recognition, natural language processing, and generative AI with real-time 3D avatar translation, we are helping organisations build more inclusive digital systems at scale,” said Signvrse chief executive Elly Savatia.
Fintech firms are also using Nairobi as an entry point into East Africa’s digital payments market, where mobile money transaction values reached $806 billion (Sh104 trillion) in 2025.
Nigeria-based Strait Sahara is introducing a machine learning-powered cross-border payments platform aimed at reducing fraud, improving compliance and shortening settlement times for African payment corridors.
The company says Kenya and Uganda are its next target markets after establishing operations between Nigeria and Ghana.
“We did not start with a pitch deck. We started by making the corridor work,” said Strait Sahara founder Kele Okafor.
Construction technology is emerging as another investment theme as startups seek to modernise one of Africa’s largest but least digitised industries.
Nairobi-based Joritu is showcasing AI-driven planning and machinery coordination systems aimed at reducing project delays and lowering operational costs in the construction sector.
The summit will also feature the unveiling of AuraLearn, an AI-powered accessibility platform developed by Victor Wanja Innovations Hub (VWIH) for visually impaired students.
The platform converts complex visual content such as STEM diagrams and macroeconomic charts into interactive spatial audio for use in learning institutions.
“The future of the global economy is in data, but right now, heavy visual data is a locked door for visually impaired minds,” said VWIH founder Victor Kariuki Wanja
