By: Kanto Kai Okanta
Kenya’s Special Envoy on
Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, has called for stronger collaboration
among technology companies, governments, families, educators and communities to
protect children and safeguard information integrity as digital platforms,
artificial intelligence (AI), algorithms and digital infrastructure
increasingly shape public understanding and decision-making.
Thigo made the call
following his moderation of a discussion on Africa’s Digital Futures at the
recently concluded Trust Summit in Nairobi, where participants examined the
implications of digital technologies for information integrity, child safety
and human agency.
The discussion brought
together Geoffrey Odundo of Nation Media Group; Elly Savatia of Signvrse and
Terp 360; Dr. Katherine Getao, former CEO of the ICT Authority; Dr. Jason Lane
of the University of Illinois System; Mercy Ndegwa of Meta; and Charles Murito
of Google.
The participants explored
how digital platforms and emerging technologies influence what people see,
believe and decide, highlighting the need to ensure that technological
innovation supports public good while protecting users.
“Protecting children is a
shared responsibility involving technology companies, governments, families,
educators and communities, with safety built into the design of products and
services,” Thigo said.
He also highlighted the role
of accessible technology in widening participation, citing a demonstration by
Savatia of AI-powered sign-language interpretation as an example of how
innovation can promote inclusion when accessibility guides its design.
Thigo described the
discussion as the beginning of an important conversation about protecting what
he called Africa’s shared reality, including the ability of people to establish
facts, engage across differences and make informed decisions together.
He said sustaining this
shared reality would require accountable platforms, trusted journalism,
digitally capable citizens and practical partnerships that enable Africans to
shape technology for the public good and human flourishing.
