Host Country
Kenya: Origin of Wonder.
From the Great Rift Valley — where the earliest chapters of human history were written — to the innovation hubs of Nairobi, Kenya stands as a living testament to where we began and a bold vision of where we are going.
The Host City
Why Nairobi
Silicon Savannah
Kenya’s thriving tech and startup ecosystem has earned Nairobi its reputation as Africa’s Silicon Savannah. Home to M-Pesa — the mobile money revolution that transformed global fintech — and backed by strong government support for innovation, Kenya leads the continent in digital technology and entrepreneurship.
Gateway to East Africa
Nairobi is the region’s undisputed financial hub, home to the Nairobi Securities Exchange — one of Africa’s leading stock exchanges — and a base for major international banks and financial institutions. The city serves as the primary gateway to the dynamic East African market of over 300 million people.
Diplomatic Hub
Nairobi hosts the global headquarters of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, making it one of only four UN headquarters cities worldwide. With its increasing geopolitical leadership and world-class conference infrastructure, Kenya is a natural convening ground for multilateral dialogue.
KICC — Kenyatta International Convention Centre
The Venue
Kenyatta International Convention Centre
The Africa Forward Summit 2026 takes place at the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Kenya’s premier conference facility and a landmark of Nairobi’s skyline. Rising 28 storeys above the Central Business District, KICC has hosted generations of landmark gatherings since 1973.
Address
Harambee Avenue, Nairobi CBD, Kenya
Distance from Airport
Approximately 16 km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)
Contact
+254 20 3261000
Beyond the Summit
Discover Kenya
Kenya is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from the ancient Swahili trading towns of Lamu to the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Turkana. Its landscapes span equatorial glaciers, arid savannahs, lush highlands, and pristine coastline — a rich tapestry of natural heritage unmatched in its diversity.
Nairobi itself is the only capital city in the world with a national park within its borders — Nairobi National Park, where lions, giraffes, and rhinos roam against a backdrop of skyscrapers. Beyond the city, the legendary Maasai Mara hosts the Great Migration, while the Great Rift Valley stretches through the heart of the country, its lakes and escarpments a reminder of the tectonic forces that shaped this land — and our species.
Karibu Kenya!
Kenya says to you all ‘Welcome Home!’
Timezone
EAT — UTC+3
No daylight saving time
Climate in May
18–26°C
Occasional afternoon showers
Languages
English & Swahili
Both are official languages
Experience Nairobi
Join world leaders, innovators, and changemakers in one of Africa’s most vibrant cities. The stage is set — and Nairobi is ready to welcome you.