Teki chief executive Martin Muli /HANDOUT
Kenya is stepping up efforts
to position itself as Africa’s leading digital trade hub as the continent
accelerates implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Digital Trade Protocol.
More than 200 policymakers,
business leaders, investors, technology innovators and development partners are
expected to attend the Digital Trade Congress (DTC) 2026 in Nairobi on August
28, under the theme “From local to global: scaling cross-border trade.”
The congress is being
organised by Teki in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through its Pan-African E-commerce
Initiative (PECI), which is the anchor sponsor.
The partnership seeks to
strengthen Africa’s digital trade ecosystem and enable more small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs), women-led businesses and young entrepreneurs to participate
in cross-border commerce.
Jennifer Chiku, Digital Trade Manager at GIZ Kenya, said Africa
needs trusted digital markets and stronger regional cooperation to unlock the
potential of e-commerce.
“Africa stands at the threshold of a new era in digital trade.
Realising this opportunity requires trusted digital markets, supportive legal
and regulatory frameworks and stronger regional collaboration,” Chiku said.
She said GIZ was working with partners across Africa to
strengthen the enabling environment for cross-border e-commerce and ensure SMEs
and young entrepreneurs benefit from the digital economy.
Teki chief executive Martin Muli said the congress would provide
a platform for translating digital trade policies into practical commercial
opportunities.
“Africa has entered a defining decade for digital commerce. As
governments implement the AfCFTA and businesses increasingly embrace
technology, the opportunity now is to remove the barriers that limit
cross-border trade,” Muli said.
Kenya has been designated the African Union Champion for Digital
Trade under the AfCFTA, reflecting its growing role in digital payments,
innovation and e-commerce.
The government has also identified digital trade as a strategic
pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, with technology-enabled
commerce expected to support exports, industrialisation, job creation and
regional competitiveness.
Industry forecasts cited by
the organisers indicate that Africa’s e-commerce market could exceed $113
billion (about Sh14.6 trillion) by 2029, while cross-border payment flows are
projected to rise from $329 billion (Sh42.4 trillion) in 2025 to about $1
trillion by 2035.
More than 500 million Africans
are already participating in digital commerce, increasing the urgency of
addressing barriers such as fragmented regulations, payment challenges,
logistics costs, cybersecurity risks and limited access to digital markets.
The DTC 2026 will bring together
stakeholders through executive dialogues, investment forums, innovation
showcases and business-to-business engagements, with discussions expected to
focus on cross-border logistics, digital payments, fintech, artificial
intelligence, cybersecurity, consumer protection and regulatory harmonisation.
A key highlight will be the
launch of the Kenya Ecommerce Alliance (KECA), a public-private platform
bringing together government, industry, development partners and businesses to
strengthen the country’s digital commerce ecosystem.
The congress has also secured
support from players including Twiva, the official creator-commerce partner,
and WYLDE International, the strategic growth advisory partner. Ecommerce
associations from Germany, South Africa, Uganda and Kenya are also expected to
participate.
The organisers said the event
will ultimately seek to connect African businesses with new markets, investment
and technology while supporting the continent’s integration into the global
digital economy.