Smart Government Summit Urges Focus On Digital Delivery – CIO Africa

Kenya’s digital transformation agenda is entering a new phase where success will be measured not by the number of services available online, but by how effectively government institutions work together to deliver seamless, secure and citizen-centred public services.
That was the key message at the Smart Government Summit 2026, organised by CIO Africa by dx5, which brought together senior government officials, policymakers, development partners, technology vendors and digital transformation leaders to discuss the future of digital governance under the theme “Building Across Seams: Integrated Public Infrastructure for Connected Government.”
Held in Nairobi, the summit is one of Africa’s leading forums on digital government, providing a platform for public and private sector leaders to exchange ideas on modernising public service delivery. This year’s programme features discussions on digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital identity, interoperability, digital sovereignty and citizen-centric government services.
Opening the summit, Harry Hare, Chairman of CIO Africa by dx5, said governments are facing a new reality where citizens benchmark public services against the best digital experiences offered by banks, e-commerce platforms and mobile applications.
“The technology is no longer the difficult part. Execution is,” Hare said, noting that governments must now focus on integrating systems, sharing data securely and using artificial intelligence to improve service delivery rather than simply digitising processes.
He challenged delegates to move beyond discussions and focus on practical solutions that governments can implement immediately, arguing that leadership, collaboration and execution, rather than technology alone, will determine the success of digital transformation.
Kenya’s next challenge is implementation
In his address, Dr. Idris Dokota, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Cabinet Affairs, said Kenya has significantly expanded its digital government programme, growing from approximately 300 digitised services in 2022 to more than 22,000 today.
However, he cautioned that citizens ultimately judge governments by outcomes rather than digital platforms.
“Citizens are not interested in technology for its own sake. They are interested in outcomes,” he said.
Dokota identified fragmented government data as one of the biggest barriers to delivering truly integrated public services. While government agencies collect vast amounts of information, many systems remain disconnected, making it difficult to provide seamless citizen services.
He said the next phase of digital government requires interoperable, trusted data systems that allow institutions to work together more effectively.
The Principal Secretary also argued that implementation remains governments’ biggest challenge, despite having well-developed national development strategies.
“Implementation is where policy becomes public value,” he said.
To strengthen execution, he noted that the State Department for Cabinet Affairs has intensified monitoring of Cabinet decisions to ensure government policies are translated into measurable outcomes through better coordination, performance tracking and follow-up.
Building connected government
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Belio Kipsang, CBS, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, outlined Kenya’s vision of creating an integrated digital government built around citizens rather than institutions.
He said the country’s digital transformation strategy is anchored on four pillars: digital public infrastructure, interoperable government platforms, trusted digital identity and citizen-centred service delivery.
“Our goal is not simply to digitise existing government services. Our goal is to reimagine how government itself operates,” he said.
Kipsang explained that government is investing in digital infrastructure while ensuring systems across sectors such as healthcare, taxation, education and public administration can exchange information securely, reducing duplication and simplifying access to services.
Maisha Ecosystem drives digital identity
A major focus of the keynote was the Maisha Ecosystem, Kenya’s next-generation digital identity programme.
The initiative introduces the Maisha Number, a unique personal identifier designed to provide every Kenyan with a lifelong digital identity that later transitions into the National Identity Card at the age of 18.
Kipsang also announced the planned rollout of electronic birth notification, which will integrate hospitals with the Civil Registration System, enabling newborns to receive a unique digital identifier immediately after birth.
The initiative is expected to reduce reliance on physical birth certificates while supporting secure digital identity verification throughout an individual’s lifetime.
Supporting the ecosystem is the National Population Register, which will enable both government agencies and authorised private sector institutions to verify identities through a single trusted platform, improving efficiency while strengthening security.
From digital government to smart government
Although speakers highlighted the progress Kenya has made in digitising public services, a common theme throughout the summit was that the next stage of transformation will depend less on deploying new technologies and more on connecting government institutions, improving data sharing and ensuring public services produce tangible outcomes for citizens.
As discussions continue, delegates are expected to explore practical approaches to cloud adoption, AI governance, cybersecurity, digital sovereignty and digital public infrastructure, with the goal of helping governments across Africa build more responsive, transparent and trusted public institutions.
The message from the opening sessions was clear: the future of smart government will not be defined by the number of digital services offered, but by how effectively governments use technology to improve the lives of their citizens.
 
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This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!