Executive Communities’ latest community – CITO East Africa – will be officially launching on 2 December. The programme and lineup has been released ahead of this auspicious event.
The moment the East African IT leadership community has been anticipating has arrived: the not-to-be-missed programme for the CITO East Africa Launch Event has been announced! Focused on setting the community agenda for technology leaders, this event is scheduled for 2 December 2025 in Nairobi.
Registrations have been streaming in as executives ensure their spot at this critical platform for executive networking and knowledge-sharing.
“After months of exciting work getting to know East Africa’s CITOs and learning what makes them tick and what keeps them up at night, we are finally about to arrive at our first event,” says Sandra Mulluka, CITO East Africa community manager. “The enthusiasm we’ve seen shows that this is an idea whose time has truly come, and we are ready to set the agenda for the future of this newly launched community!”
The launch event promises to deliver important insights, fantastic networking opportunities, and a lineup of exciting speakers ready to share their knowledge. Here is the dynamic programme:
CITO East Africa launch event: Setting the community agenda for CITO East Africa
17:00 – Arrivals, registration and networking
Guests arrive and connect over welcome refreshments as the evening begins
17:30 – Welcome remarks
By Sandra Mulluka, CITO East Africa community manager, and Joël Roerig, MD of Executive Communities
Setting the tone for the evening with opening remarks on the vision and purpose of the CITO East Africa community, the newest community within Executive Communities
17:35 – Panel discussion: Homeground advantage – CITOs driving growth through local innovation
A lively discussion exploring how technology leaders are leveraging locally developed solutions and nurturing homegrown talent to power business transformation across East Africa
Panel speakers
- Russell Akuom, CIO, Nation Media Group, Kenya
- Faith Nkatha Gitonga, Interim Country Director, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
- Moses Okundi, CITO, Absa Kenya
- Sandra Mulluka, CITO Community Manager (moderator)
18:15 – Interactive sessions: Setting the agenda for CITO East Africa
A dynamic, participatory session where members shape the priorities, focus areas, and community goals for 2026, hosted by:
- Isaac Mwangi, group head of ICT, Unga, Kenya
- Jimmie Mwangi, group CIDO, Diamond Trust Bank, Kenya
- Julius Orayo, group CIO, Jubilee Holdings, Kenya
19:10 – Networking and canapés
An opportunity to unwind, exchange ideas, and build new connections within the CITO community
19:50 – Panel discussion: Vision of an African technology future
A forward-looking reflection on Africa’s technology potential and the role of collaboration in shaping a resilient digital future
- Kibe Kamau, IT Director Africa, Gardaworld, Kenya
- Jay Patel, director of technology, Jacaranda Health, Kenya
- Emannuella Nzahabonimana, head of technology, BPR Bank, Rwanda
- Tom Juma, group CIO, Britam, Kenya
- KC Rottok Chesaina, CITO East Africa co-founder (moderator)
20:30 – Drinks and networking
The evening concludes with informal conversations and networking over drinks
East African IT leaders should be sure to attend the launch of the community that will give direction to their roles and collaborations in the coming years. Contact CHRO community manager Sandra Mulluka on [email protected] to secure your seat.