The World CIO 200 Summit – Kenya Edition marked a significant milestone in East Africa’s digital journey as it convened at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence, Nairobi, under the compelling theme “Dawn of a New Decade.” Celebrating 10 years of global impact, this year’s edition united Kenya’s most visionary technology leaders to explore the evolving role of the CIO in an increasingly digital world.
Organized by Global CIO Forum and powered by GEC Media Group, the summit brought together an influential community of CIOs, tech executives, and digital pioneers for a full day of knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and recognition. Barco – Avientek served as the Gold Sponsor of the event, underlining their commitment to enabling digital transformation across the region.
The event began with a welcome keynote by Ningil Talaman, Lead Campaign Manager at GEC Media Group, setting the tone for a high-impact day of dialogue and discovery.
Opening remarks were delivered by the summit’s Country Ambassadors,
Bernard Rono, Head of ICT at Kenya Tea Packers Limited
Maurine Awuor Onyango, Director ICT, County Government of Kisumu
Bitashna Pisavadia, CIO, Oshwal Education & Relief Board
Their insights underscored the strategic importance of IT leadership in both public and private sectors.
Dhiraj Patil, Territory Manager – Corporate Sales at Barco, presented a compelling vision for enterprise and technology’s role in modern IT ecosystems.
Panel Discussion 1: “The Next Decade of IT Leadership”
Moderated by Bernard Rono, this panel explored the evolving traits of bold CIOs, focusing on the intersection of innovation, risk, and business outcomes.
Panelists included:
- Nilton Mutungi – Director, ICT and E-Services – Women Enterprise Fund
- Timothy Laku – Fractional CIO/CTO – Startups & Social Impact Organizations
- James Mungai – Head ICT & INNOVATIONS, Director – TAI DT SACCO, SITPA
- Nicholas Kihara – Head of ICT – Kenya Wine Agencies Limited
Panel Discussion 2: “The Business Value of IT – Proving Impact Beyond Technology”
Moderated by Bitashna Pisavadia, this session highlighted how CIOs align IT initiatives with core business goals.
Panelists included:
- Dennis Katusya Musyoka – Group Head – Technology Delivery, Mitchell Cotts Freight Kenya
- Bernard Kinyua – Director ICT, County Government of Nyandarua
- Kenneth Riany – Head of ICT, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC)
- Duncan Eric Ogonji – Regional Director IT, Plan International
- Deborah Mutungi – Group IT Manager, Sarova Hotels and Resorts
Panel Discussion 3: “Key Technologies Driving CIO Priorities”
Moderated by Maurine Awuor Onyango, this session focused on emerging technologies such as AI, cloud, and automation, and the CIO’s responsibility in ensuring ethical and sustainable tech use.
Panelists included:
- Reagan Kai – Head of ICT, Imarika DT SACCO Ltd
- Samuel Mbai – Chief ICT Officer, University of Nairobi
- Sylvester Muoki – Head of IT, Isuzu East Africa Limited
- Gilbert Mutai – CIO, Car and General PLC
The highlight of the summit was the CIO 200 Awards, which honored outstanding IT leaders for their contributions in four categories:Next-Gen, Leader, Master, and Legend.
Award recipients were celebrated for their innovation, leadership, and lasting impact on their organizations and the broader tech community.
The event concluded with reflections and closing remarks from the Country Ambassadors, followed by a networking lunch—an opportunity for continued conversation, connection, and collaboration.
