Women in Tech, a global community dedicated to supporting women in the technology sector, has officially launched its Kenya Chapter in Nairobi. This announcement was made during the 2025 Women in Tech Summit, organised in partnership with Absa, and marked the first event of its kind to take place in the country.
The Summit, held shortly after International Women’s Day celebrations, brought together industry leaders, women in tech, government officials, and gender equality activists to celebrate women’s achievements in technology and advocate for progress towards gender equality.
Speaking at the event, Melissa Slaymaker, the Africa Director for Women in Tech, underscored the organisation’s vision and the importance of expanding across the continent. “Women in Tech aims to empower five million women and girls by 2030, and expanding into new regions is crucial to achieving this goal. Each new chapter allows us to reach more women and girls, providing them with skills, mentorship, and opportunities in technology. Partnerships like the one we have with Absa help us move the dial faster, driving systemic change in the industry,” she stated.
According to the World Economic Forum, if the current pace of progress continues, full gender parity will not be achieved until 2158. This year’s International Women’s Day theme, #AccelerateAction, highlights the urgent need to dismantle barriers to gender equality—an urgent call echoed in the Summit’s discussions.
On his part, Julius Kamau, the Chief Operations and Data Officer at Absa Kenya, emphasized the Bank’s commitment to diversity and the role of such summits in fostering meaningful change. “At Absa, we firmly believe that diversity is not just a goal, it is a business imperative. Platforms like the Women in Tech Summit provide a vital space for women in technology to connect, share experiences, and inspire the next generation. More than that, they keep us accountable, ensuring that gender diversity remains at the forefront of our industry’s agenda,” he said.
For the past two years, Women in Tech has been collaborating with Absa to host summits and networking events in South Africa. The inaugural Summit in Kenya marked a significant milestone and coincided with the launch of the Women in Tech Kenya chapter.
The Women in Tech Kenya Summit acted as a catalyst for action, underscoring the urgent need for intentional, sustained efforts to break barriers and create tangible opportunities for women in technology.
The conference addressed key topics like advancing women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and innovating for a sustainable future. Punki Modise, the Group Sustainability Officer at Absa Group, highlighted how technology enables financial inclusion and plays a vital role in driving sustainability.
The event’s final session, focused on accelerating action and reinforced the need for collective responsibility. “Empowering women requires creating a culture of collaboration, ensuring equal access to resources, and making growth opportunities more visible and accessible to women,” said Muhammad Ali Bhikhan, Managing Executive and Chief Information Officer of Absa Regional Operations.
The discussions emphasized that true progress requires mentorship, leadership advocacy, and structural changes, such as embedding gender diversity in leadership pipelines and implementing policies that promote equal pay and fair hiring. As the Summit concluded, one message resonated: progress is possible, but only if we commit to accelerating action—together.
