Kenya Re-elected to ATU Administrative Council, Strengthening Regional Leadership in ICT
Kenya has been re-elected to the Administrative Council of the African Telecommunication Union (ATU), the African Union’s specialized agency for telecommunications and ICTs.
The re-election at the just concluded Seventh Ordinary Session of the ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26) in Abuja, Nigeria, grants Kenya a fresh four-year term to help shape policy on the future of ICTs in the African region.
The CPL, which is the supreme decision-making organ of ATU, elected 25 Member States to the Administrative Council, with Kenya set to represent the East African region alongside Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
The Administrative Council is ATU’s governing body between Conferences of Plenipotentiaries and is responsible for providing strategic oversight, guiding policy implementation and supporting initiatives that advance ICT development, digital inclusion and regional cooperation across the continent.
The Conference also elected Zambia’s Eng. Kezias Mwale as ATU’s next Secretary General for the 2027–2031 term. Eng. Mwale emerged victorious after four rounds of voting, securing 21 of the 34 votes cast in the fourth and final round. He will officially assume office on 1 January 2027, succeeding the current Secretary General, Mr. John Omo.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Kenyan delegation hosted delegates to a reception celebrating Kenya’s successful re-election to the Administrative Council and honouring the remarkable contribution of outgoing Secretary General Mr. John Omo, following his eight years of distinguished service to the Union. The reception also provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to advancing regional collaboration in the ICT sector.
The election of the new leadership and Administrative Council marks another significant milestone for ATU as it continues to spearhead Africa’s digital transformation agenda. With its renewed mandate on the Administrative Council, Kenya is well positioned to continue contributing to continental policies and programmes that promote innovation, connectivity, digital inclusion and sustainable socio-economic development across Africa.
Kenya has been hosting ATU since 1999 and has produced two Secretaries General. Besides Mr. Omo, the other Kenyan to lead the institution is Mr. Jan Mutai, who served as Secretary General between 1999 and 2001.