The United Asian Network (UAN) hosted its Leadership Summit 2.0, at the Swaminarayan Temple on Forest Road. The summit, themed “Strengthening Kenyan Asian Engagement & Unity,” convened influential leaders to build actionable frameworks for the community’s role in Kenya’s economic and social development.
The event featured some of Kenya’s foremost corporate and public sector leaders. The Chief Guest was Mr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC, and a keynote address was delivered by Mr. Jas Bedi, the chairperson of both the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA).
Building on its inaugural summit in 2024, this year’s event moved beyond discussion to focus on developing concrete strategies for economic repositioning, national engagement, and youth leadership.
The agenda was structured around three key tracks: National Engagement, fostering unity and collective nation-building. Economic Connector, examining opportunities to reposition businesses within Kenya’s evolving economic landscape, and Social & Youth, highlighting the evolution of Kenyan Asian leadership and their contributions.
A key panel on national engagement, titled “Kenya’s Strength is Diversity,” featured Mr. Andrew Musangi, the Board Chairman of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and Zarak Khan, Chairman of Pesawise East Africa & Winfield Africa Ltd
In his keynote address, Mr. Jas Bedi stated, “We need to reshape our business models to effectively thrive in the new changing world order, changing multilateralism and the rules based trading system”.
Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC, added, ” The United Asian Network Leadership Summit is a timely reminder of the strength we gain from diversity. The Asian community is an integral part of Kenya’s fabric, renowned for its enterprise, resilience, and succession planning. But beyond commercial success lies an opportunity to deepen integration and play an even more visible role in shaping our shared destiny. At Safaricom, we have learned that a seat at the table is not given, it is earned by placing purpose before profit and ensuring no one is left behind. Together, through unity and impact, we can build a future where every community in Kenya thrives”.
The summit convened at a time when the relationship between Kenya’s Asian and African communities is increasingly vital for national progress.
