I spent 20 years in the digital sphere, growing from systems analyst and systems administrator to the director of ICT and innovation in a Level 6 healthcare facility. This was crowned by the recognition as the CTO of the Year 2025 in public service through the Ministry of ICT and e-Government. Then, in mid-2025, came the transition to the CFO ecosystem.

At the CIO of the Future Summit held at the Dar es Salaam Serena on 11 September, Dr Allen Mutono delivered a keynote address that challenged IT leaders to think carefully about how AI is deployed in African organisations. He also urged CIOs to equip their teams for an AI-enabled workplace while keeping human judgement at the centre.

AI has not only made work easier for organisations, but it has also added a layer of complexity when dealing with cybersecurity. Across different conversations, Jacqueline Madara, head of ICT at Machakos University, Yuki Ouchi, head of digital products and e-commerce at KFC Kenya, James Kwezi, digital transformation manager at AFR Rwanda, and Alex Siboe Wekunda, CIO at Stanbic Bank Kenya, weigh in on how AI is reshaping the threat on the other side of the firewall.

As head of technology services at Ecobank Uganda, Juliet Kyomugisha is at the forefront of the bank's digital transformation and cybersecurity efforts. She oversees technology projects, strengthens governance frameworks, and helps the bank stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. She shares how Ecobank leverages data, manages cybersecurity risks, and balances innovation with security.

Three tech leaders shed light on how technology is slowly changing the face of healthcare in Africa.

The quiet revolution in banking is already underway, according to insights shared by Mpesa Africa CTO Vinod Sharma on his blog titled “The Future of Digital Banking: Powerful Trends to Watch.” From instant loan approvals to real-time money transfers, digital systems are reshaping how financial services operate and how customers experience them.

Dr Leah Miano, head of information communication and technology at the Universities Fund, Geoffrey Gitagia, CIO at Avenue Healthcare and Jaine Mwai, chief technology and operations officer at Standard Chartered share their perspectives on how technology leaders are shaping organisations to become future ready CIOs.

Beyond the day to day activities involved in running a tech department, tech leaders also engage in different community building initiatives in their free time. Paul Kioi, head of technology at ICEA Lion , Paul Njoroge, head of ICT at Hand in Hand Eastern Africa, and Raymond Machary, principal ICT officer at Ocean Road Cancer Institute, reveal how their off-duty passions sharpen their leadership and uplift their communities. 

Edgar Malili’s leadership style is all about patience, consistency and practicality. At WEC Lines, he handles complex systems, compliance and cybersecurity with a calm and focused approach. Outside of work, he applies the same discipline to training his seven dogs. For Edgar, success whether in technology or life, is about being prepared, sticking to routines, and understanding both people and animals.

ICEA Lion CITO Paul Kioi’s office is a world of digital innovation and corporate strategy. As head of technology and transformation, he manages the challenges of digital systems, the changing needs of tech infrastructure and the pressures of corporate values and business growth.