Meet Our Speakers

Mr. Eliud Owalo is Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary (Minister) for the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy since October, 2022. Prior to this appointment he was the Managing Consultant at Eliud &Associates (E&A) Management Consultants. Eliud has 23 years’ experience as an Economist, Management Consultant and Strategy Expert with Core-Competency in Macro and Micro-Economics; Strategic Planning; Business Planning; Organizational Re-structuring; Job Evaluation and Pay Structure Architecture; Performance Management; Management of Strategic Change; Training Needs Assessment (T.N.A.);Organizational Design/Development; Executive Search, Selection and Placement (Recruitment);Human Resource Audit; Market Research/Surveys; and Feasibility Studies. As Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Owalo has championed and rapidly achieved remarkable digital transformation initiatives in Kenya such as digitalization over 15,000 public services through the E-Citizen platform, providing broadband access through last mile fiber connectivity, spearheading mobile connectivity to unserved and underserved areas, skilling nearly half a million youths with digital skills, deployment of public wifi hotspots and establishing ICT hubs, all aimed at boosting Kenya's digital economy. In February 2024, he was appointed to serve on the Global Innovation Board by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency for ICTs. Mr. Owalo is a Fellow of the Institute of Human Resource Management (FIHRM) in Kenya, a member of Professional Trainers' Association of Kenya (PTAK), and former Director/Council Member of the Kenyan School of Government (KSG). For his distinguished service to the Nation Mr. Owalo was awarded Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (E.G.H.) by H.E. President Dr William Ruto, CGH in December 2023. Mr. Owalo holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Economics and Business Studies from the Kenyatta University, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Nairobi and is currently pursuing a PhD in Strategic Management at the University of Nairobi. His exposure to cutting edge technology, coupled with a keen interest in advancing the application of AI, IoT and machine learning in Kenya and the continent drives his mission for a technological revolution. He has a vision of an Empowered and Digitalized African Economy.