Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto, hosted a high-level side event during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on May 12, focusing on efforts to build safer digital spaces for children in an increasingly AI-driven world.
The summit convened First Ladies, policymakers, and international figures, including former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to champion a Safety by Design approach to protect children online as Africa’s digital landscape rapidly expands.
Leaders at the summit stressed that while technology has become an essential part of how African children learn, connect, and grow, it also exposes them to risks such as harmful content, exploitation, and privacy violations.
“The same digital world that can unlock a child’s future can also place it at risk,” said First Lady Rachel Ruto. “Progress must never outpace protection. What we are building is not just infrastructure; we are shaping the environment in which our children will grow.”
Delegates from across the continent shared their national perspectives on child online protection. In Kenya, First Lady Rachel Ruto noted that while the country is advancing as a regional digital hub under President William Ruto, digital growth must be guided by African values and strong safety frameworks.
Guinea’s First Lady, Lauriane Darboux épouse Doumbouya, underscored the urgency of establishing global standards for child online safety, given Africa’s rapidly growing youth population. Eswatini’s First Lady, Philile Dlamini, called for continuous vigilance against harmful online content, while Tanzania’s representative, Neema Ngure Nchemba, highlighted ongoing legislative efforts to ensure children have access to age-appropriate digital content.
The summit also emphasised that safeguarding children online requires collaboration beyond governments. Major technology companies, including Meta, Google, TikTok, and Microsoft, joined telecommunications leaders GSMA and Safaricom, alongside organisations such as World Vision and Mtoto News, in committing to stronger digital protections and community-driven solutions.
A key highlight of the summit was the Voice of Children initiative, which emphasised involving children directly in conversations about online safety. Leaders noted that children are not merely recipients of protection but active participants whose experiences can help shape safer and more inclusive digital systems.
The discussions in Nairobi are expected to continue on the global stage through upcoming engagements at the G7 Évian Summit and the Internet Governance Forum 2026, supported by the Africa Taskforce on Child Online Protection as part of broader efforts to advance lasting digital safety reforms across the continent
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