From DevFest Rift Valley to DevFest Nairobi 2026: Why I Keep Coming Back

Some tech events leave you with more than just notes and photos. They introduce you to new ideas, people building interesting things, and perspectives that make you rethink how you approach technology.

For me, DevFest has become one of those experiences.

My journey with DevFest started at DevFest Rift Valley. This year, I had the opportunity to experience DevFest Nairobi 2026, hosted by Google Developer Groups Nairobi at the Sarit Expo Centre.

Under the theme Build. Secure. Scale., the event brought together developers, engineers, founders, designers, technology enthusiasts and people passionate about building the future.

And there was quite a lot to explore.

Beyond the usual conversations about AI

AI and agentic applications were among the major themes throughout the event. There were discussions around building production agents with Gemini, solving complex problems with AI, and moving beyond traditional chatbots towards more capable AI-powered products.

What I found interesting was the shift in conversation. We are moving from simply experimenting with AI APIs to thinking about how to build, deploy, secure and maintain AI systems that solve actual problems.

There were also sessions covering cloud computing, cybersecurity, APIs, IoT, mobile development, accessibility and software engineering.

Some topics that particularly caught my attention included securing autonomous agents in production, designing APIs for AI agents, building high-throughput and low-latency IoT systems with Go, and architecting secure SaaS applications on Google Cloud.

These are areas that connect closely with the engineering challenges developers face when building real-world systems.

The value of being part of a developer community

One thing I appreciate about DevFest is that the experience extends beyond the stage.

Meeting other developers, exchanging ideas, discovering what people are building and having conversations about the industry are equally important.

Technology evolves quickly, and sometimes the most valuable thing you can take away from an event is a conversation with someone approaching a problem differently.

It is also encouraging to see the developer ecosystem in Nairobi bringing together people with different skills, experiences and ambitions.

A journey that keeps growing

I also want to appreciate Wayne Jotham Gakuo. His enthusiasm and influence around DevFest and the Google developer ecosystem have contributed to my growing interest in these events and Google's technologies over the years.

From my experience at DevFest Rift Valley to now attending DevFest Nairobi, that interest has continued to grow.

I have developed a greater appreciation for the work Google Developer Groups communities do in creating spaces where developers can learn, collaborate and share knowledge.

Looking ahead

DevFest Nairobi 2026 was a reminder of how much there is still to learn and build.

Whether it is AI, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity or software engineering, the opportunities are enormous. But so are the responsibilities that come with building technology that people and businesses depend on.

I left with new ideas, valuable connections and more areas I want to explore.

Thank you to GDG Nairobi, the speakers, organizers, volunteers and everyone who contributed to making the event happen.

Until the next DevFest.

Build. Secure. Scale.

What I keep taking away from these events is simple: the best way to understand where technology is going is to stay curious, keep building and remain connected to the people building it.