Dr. Shikoh Gitau is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Qhala, a digital-innovation firm she launched in 2020 to help African governments, businesses, and NGOs navigate digital transformation. Wikipedia+2Disrupt Africa+2 With a PhD and MSc in Computer Science from University of Cape Town, and a BSc from Africa Nazarene University, she brings deep technical knowledge to her leadership. Wikipedia+1

Before Qhala, she established and led Safaricom Alpha — Africa’s first corporate-innovation hub — where as Head of Products – Innovation (and Chief Innovation Officer), she helped steer Safaricom’s shift into a fully digital company. Evidence for Development Conference+2Summit+2 Earlier, at African Development Bank (AfDB), she advised governments across Africa on ICT for public service delivery and co-authored a “Digital Government Blueprint,” now adopted by broader regional initiatives. Carnegie Endowment+2The Benchmark+2

Under her leadership, Qhala delivers bespoke, research-driven solutions for sectors including health, education, agriculture, payments, and renewable energy — often leveraging AI, data analytics, cloud and blockchain — to build context-appropriate, sustainable digital systems across Africa. Disrupt Africa+2Startup Kenya+2 Dr. Gitau also serves on multiple boards (including academic and tech-industry organizations), and she’s recognized with awards such as the ABIE Change Agent Award and “Women in STEM Champion,” reflecting her contributions to technology, inclusion, and ecosystem building. Wikipedia+2Aspen Globa