Nairobi -As Africa races deeper into the digital age, a growing movement is making sure no one is left behind especially those too often forgotten in tech innovation.
Next week, Nairobi will host the sixth edition of the Inclusive Africa Conference, a regional gathering that aims to put disability rights at the heart of the continent’s digital future. The event, running from 3–5 June at the JW Marriott Hotel, is expected to draw a diverse crowd from global tech powerhouses to grassroots innovators and policymakers.
Organized by the Kenya-based nonprofit inABLE, the three-day summit comes with a clear message: technology must serve everyone.
“In today’s digital world, accessibility is not optional it’s a basic right,” said Irene Mbari-Kirika, founder and executive director of inABLE. “If we’re serious about inclusion, we must build tech that includes persons with disabilities from the start.”
The conference theme, “Scaling Digital Accessibility through Innovation & Entrepreneurship,” sets the tone for a packed agenda. It will feature panel discussions, workshops, and a high-stakes pitch session where 15 entrepreneurs will present disability-focused innovations to potential investors.
These pitches cover everything from AI-powered mobility apps to accessible financial platforms technologies designed not just to include, but to empower.
Confirmed attendees include representatives from Google, Microsoft, Meta, Uber, and Mastercard Foundation, alongside African government officials and civil society leaders.
Backed by Law, Fueled by Innovation
The timing of the summit is notable. It comes just weeks after Kenyan President William Ruto signed into law the Persons with Disabilities Act 2025. The new legislation aligns Kenya’s policies with international standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Organizers say the law provides fresh momentum for harmonizing accessibility regulations across Africa.
Held on the heels of the World Day for Assistive Technology, the conference will also highlight the growing market potential of disability-driven innovation. According to the African Union, more than 80 million people across the continent live with some form of disability a vast demographic often excluded from digital services.
“This is about more than compliance. It’s about designing for dignity,” said Mbari-Kirika. “We’re talking about jobs, education, independence. We’re talking about giving everyone a fair chance in the digital economy.”
Small Event, Big Impact
Since it began in 2020, the Inclusive Africa Conference has grown from a small forum to a key event shaping policy and perception. Previous editions helped pave the way for Kenya’s ICT Accessibility Standard (KS2952) a collaboration between inABLE and the Kenya Bureau of Standards that set a precedent for tech regulation in the region.
This year’s conference continues that push, spotlighting how artificial intelligence if built thoughtfully can drive social equity.
“Disability-driven innovation is not just good policy. It’s good business,” Mbari-Kirika said. “And Africa has a chance to lead.”
At a time when tech is rewriting the rules of daily life, the question isn’t whether to include persons with disabilities but how quickly and meaningfully it can be done.
In Nairobi next week, the answer may come from the people most affected, and the innovators finally listening.
