Kenyan startup, Qhala is positioning itself at the heart of Africa’s digital transformation, working with governments, corporations, and NGOs to adopt technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and blockchain.
Founded in 2020 by computer scientist Dr Shikoh Gitau, the former head of innovation at Safaricom, the Nairobi-based firm has partnered with global giants including Microsoft, Huawei, Amazon Web Services, and the Gates Foundation.
“Off-the-shelf tech often misses local context or isn’t implemented based on data and research. Qhala fills this gap with bespoke, research-driven digital services,” Gitau said in an interview.
COVID-19 Dashboard and National Strategy
Qhala’s breakout moment came during the pandemic when it developed Kenya’s official COVID-19 modelling dashboard, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the University of Nairobi.
The platform provided real-time data that guided policy decisions, with Gitau describing it as a “complete gamechanger for the government.”
The initiative mirrored similar digital responses in countries like South Korea and Taiwan, where data-driven dashboards were central to crisis management.
Yet unlike those countries, which already had advanced e-governance infrastructure, Kenya’s solution was built under pressure with limited resources, a move that underscored Africa’s potential for leapfrogging.
Africa’s Digital Economy by the Numbers
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) projects that Africa’s digital economy could add $712 billion to GDP by 2050, but progress is uneven.
Currently, only 40% of Africans have access to the internet, compared to 70% in Asia and 85% in Europe, according to the World Bank.
Kenya, however, has been a regional leader, with internet penetration at 42% and mobile money adoption exceeding 80% of the adult population through M-Pesa.
Qhala leverages this momentum by offering custom transformation strategies to both governments and corporates, bridging the gap between innovation capacity and institutional readiness.
Cross-Continent Expansion and Corporate Adoption
Since its launch, Qhala has executed projects in nine African countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda, Cameroon, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and Botswana, alongside partnerships in the UK and US.
Its flagship iHelix programme, which fosters collaboration between startups and corporations, has been adopted by regional heavyweights such as Safaricom, Kenya Airways, Britam, Stanbic Zambia, Nation Media Group, and AAR.
This model reflects broader global trends, where corporate, startup collaborations have driven innovation in markets like India and Southeast Asia, enabling traditional companies to rapidly modernise.
Policy and AI Leadership
Beyond consulting, Qhala is shaping Africa’s role in global AI governance. It co-drafted the Africa AI Declaration, designed to guide responsible AI development across the continent.
According to UNESCO, only 26 African countries currently have formal AI policies, compared to over 60 in Europe and Asia combined.
Qhala also runs AI literacy and digital policy workshops, training leaders to navigate the regulatory and ethical challenges of emerging technologies.
“Our biggest hurdle has been building trust in a consultancy that doesn’t just deliver tools, but shapes national strategy and policy,” Gitau explained.
Why It Matters
Globally, Africa’s digital adoption still lags behind, with the continent accounting for just 1% of the world’s data center capacity, compared to 39% in North America and 29% in Europe, according to Xalam Analytics.
Yet, the region’s youthful population, with 60% under the age of 25, presents enormous potential for innovation.
By offering locally grounded, research-based solutions, Qhala exemplifies how African firms can chart their own path instead of relying solely on imported technologies.
“Launching Qhala during the pandemic highlighted both the urgency of digital transformation and the lack of preparedness across institutions,” Gitau said. “It’s a challenge, but also Africa’s biggest opportunity.”
Talking Points
Qhala’s work highlights how Africa can shape its own digital future by prioritising locally relevant, research-driven solutions instead of relying on imported technologies that often fail in context.
With a youthful population and a projected $712 billion digital economy by 2050, the continent has both the need and opportunity to build homegrown digital frameworks, policies, and innovations.
The big picture is that Africa’s digital transformation cannot simply mirror Silicon Valley or China; it must be grounded in its own realities.
Startups like Qhala show the path forward, but without parallel investments in infrastructure, governance, and digital literacy, such successes risk remaining isolated rather than sparking a continent-wide movement.
