Safaricom CEO, KEPSA Chair Headline Second Summit on Kenyan Asian Community's Economic and Civic Role

NAIROBI, Kenya – September 23, 2025 – The United Asian Network (UAN) hosted its Leadership Summit 2.0, at the Swaminarayan Temple on Forest Road. The summit, themed "Strengthening Kenyan Asian Engagement & Unity," convened influential leaders to build actionable frameworks for the community's role in Kenya's economic and social development.

The event featured some of Kenya's foremost corporate and public sector leaders. The Chief Guest was Mr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC, and a keynote address was delivered by Mr. Jas Bedi, the chairperson of both the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA).

Building on its inaugural summit in 2024, this year's event moved beyond discussion to focus on developing concrete strategies for economic repositioning, national engagement, and youth leadership.

Dr. Bimal Kantaria opened with a reminder of identity and belonging, noting his family has been rooted in Kenya since 1898 and now spans five generations. “We have nowhere else to go,” he said. “For our children, this is our country.” With that clarity, he urged the community to stay actively engaged at the national level.

With 20 speakers set to share insights on community, business, and collaboration, Dr. Amit Thakker, Vice Chairman, UAN, highlighted additional avenues for engagement throughout the day, including a collaborative sign-off on the summit’s agreed outcomes, a guided tour of the facility, and professional documentation—photography and records— that will support both institutional memory and social media storytelling.

Mr. Satish Patel thanked and welcomed the UAN board, speakers, and guests of honour, expressinghope that the Asian community will continueto contribute meaningfully to Kenyan culture, people, and economy. He highlighted UAN’s growing pillars—social identity, national engagement, business and advisory forums, and an expanding group of trustees.

Dr. Vimal Shah, emphasised on unity: although diverse in languages, religions and cultures, the Asian community’s forefathers came together to form the East African National Congress, contributing to humanitarian work, rights, business, and the economy.

Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC, added, “ The United Asian Network Leadership Summit is a timely reminder of the strength we gain from diversity. The Asian community is an integral part of Kenya’s fabric, renowned for its enterprise, resilience, and succession planning. But beyond commercial success lies an opportunity to deepen integration and play an even more visible role in shaping our shared destiny. At Safaricom, we have learned that a seat at the table is not given, it is earned by placing purpose before profit and ensuring no one is left behind. Together, through unity and impact, we can build a future where every community in Kenya thrives”.

In his keynote address, Mr. Jas Bedi stated, "We need to reshape our business models to effectively thrive in the new changing world order, changing multilateralism and the rules based trading system".

The first track of the 2025 UAN Summit, moderated by Mr. Ashif Kassam, addressed the theme, “Kenya’s Diversity is its Strength.” The panellists agreed that the next generation have a role to play in shaping national policy and cohesion. Andrew Musangi lauded the community’s excellent succession planning principles, but argued that “civic duty must be passed down alongside businesses.”

The second track explored, “Technology, Entrepreneurship and Generational Transitions.” Ms. Sheena opened with a personal story of her journey from practising law in London to agri-tech in Kenya. Agriculture and tech remain the future, she noted. The track underscored that long-term business success depends on adaptability, professionalisation clear governance and alignment between capital and enterprise needs. Technology, while critical, must be applied practically, and succession must be treated as a structured journey rather than a single event.

The third track’s moderator, Dr. Isha Anand, acknowledged the diversity of the speakers, remarking on the combined experience of over 20 years they brought, including a Gen Z perspective.

Recalling his family’s role during the independence movement, Dr. Kevit Desai reminded attendees that courage, intellect and service built the foundations of modern Kenya. He urged leaders to step into policy spaces, join task forces and shape national development.

The summit convened at a time when the relationship between Kenya's Asian and African communities is increasingly vital for national progress.

-ENDS-

About the United Asian Network (UAN)

Established in 2022, the United Asian Network (UAN) is a non-profit and non-political think-tank serving as an umbrella body for the Asian community in Kenya. Inspired by collaborative efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, UAN is dedicated to strengthening the community's economic and civic role in the nation's development. The organization works to facilitate cross-community collaboration and promote social harmony, contributing to a prosperous future for all Kenyans while celebrating the diverse heritage of its members.

https://uan.co.ke/