CIOs Drive Kenya’s Digital Shift
President’s Special Envoy for Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo delivered the keynote. He stressed that innovation in the private sector
A panel with Gilbert Mutai (Car & General Group), Jacinta Kamemba (VisionFund International), Geoffrey Gitagia (Avenue Healthcare), MK Balaji, and Deji Lana discussed how CIOs must balance continuity and innovation against propelling efficiency and competitiveness. Photo/Courtesy
By Juliet Jerotich
Kenya’s top Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are taking on a more significant role in building business strategy as organizations maintain mounting pressure to expand, innovate rapidly, and deliver improved outcomes.
With rapid digital development, shifting customer needs, and mounting competition, CIOs are now not just system administrators. They are now key decision-makers guiding enterprise transformation.
SeamlessHR, the top HR technology company in Africa, welcomed over 50 CIOs and technology leaders from top Kenyan companies to a strategic roundtable in Pullman Hotel in Nairobi.
It brought CIOs together to consider their changing roles and exchange lessons on applying practical strategies to drive transformation in entire organisations.
Named “CIOs at the Forefront: Accelerating Enterprise Transformation and Performance,” the session addressed how technology executives are making the transition from legacy systems to constructing integrated, adaptive, and performance-based enterprises.
Issues of conversation were data strategy, managing innovation, and why companies must rethink their use of technology at scale.
President’s Special Envoy for Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo delivered the keynote. He stressed that innovation in the private sector must find alignment with country digital ambitions.
“We are at a turning point in Kenya’s digital trajectory,” Thigo said. “CIOs must step forward as champions of economic progress. Boardroom decisions must connect directly to the nation’s technology vision.”.
He underlined that change doesn’t happen because of ideas. Businesses need to have good systems, strong digital infrastructure, and good data to take decisions that count.
SeamlessHR’s Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder, Deji Lana, underlined simplicity. “Technology should make things clearer. When the systems talk to one another and the data is good, decisions are sharper and faster. That’s how CIOs create a competitive edge,” Lana pointed out.
A panel with Gilbert Mutai (Car & General Group), Jacinta Kamemba (VisionFund International), Geoffrey Gitagia (Avenue Healthcare), MK Balaji, and Deji Lana discussed how CIOs must balance continuity and innovation against propelling efficiency and competitiveness.
Balaji again emphasized that CIOs must do more than keep the lights on. “Today’s CIOs must drive transformation, provide actionable insights to the teams, and build platforms ready to address the problems of the future,” he said.
The roundtable ended with a consensus: Kenyan CIOs are at the center of business transformation. SeamlessHR pledged to continue enabling technology leaders with tools and partnerships so that they can lead well.
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