Mark Kaigwa
Mark Kaigwa is a Kenyan entrepreneur, author, and professional speaker who has spent the past decade decoding how Africans connect, create, and consume online. In 2013 he founded Nendo, a Nairobi-based digital-research and marketing agency that tracks social, search, and mobile behaviour in more than 20 African markets. Nendo’s annual A-Z of Kenyans on Twitter and State of Mobile Money reports are must-reads for brands, NGOs, and investors seeking evidence-led insight into East Africa’s fast-shifting digital culture.
Kaigwa began his career producing award-winning trans-media films and games before turning to strategy; he has since advised Google, Safaricom, Unicef, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on audience engagement and product localisation. A TED Global, SXSW, and Cannes Lions speaker, he is known for distilling complex tech trends into clear, actionable stories. His 2024 book “Hashtag Nation: Inside Africa’s Social Media Century” chronicles the rise of influencer commerce, civic hashtag movements, and AI-powered vernacular content.
Committed to nurturing talent, Kaigwa mentors start-ups through MEST Africa and co-founded the Digital Campfire fellowship, which has trained 900 young analysts in social-listening and data-visualisation skills. He sits on the advisory board of Africa No Filter and remains a leading voice on how the continent can shape, not just adopt, the global digital future.