Ambassador Philip Thigo, MBS

About

H.E. Ambassador Philip Thigo, MBS, is a renowned technology and public policy expert. He is the Special Envoy for Technology for H.E the President of the Republic of Kenya. In 2018, Apolitical named him one of the World's 100 most influential people in digital government. In 2023, Africa Com listed him among Africa's Top 100 Most Influential Leaders in Technology and Telecommunications. In 2023, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed him to his High-Level Advisory Board on Artificial Intelligence (HLAB) for one year. In 2024, he was once again recognized by Apolitical as one of The Government AI 100 in 2025. In August 2024, Amb. Thigo was globally recognized by Mozilla under their RISE25 Award as one of five advocates leading the development of artificial intelligence ethically, inclusively, and transparently. On December 12, 2023, during Kenya’s 60th Independence Day Anniversary, he was awarded the Presidential Commendation, Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (M.B.S), for his distinguished service to the country. Amb. Thigo has been curating with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the African Union, the Women Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion (WEE-FI) for Africa. He Serves in multiple boards and roles - he is a founding steering committee member of the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES), leads the Power of Data Initiative by Global Partnership on Sustainable Development Data, Technical Advisory Board of Digital Earth Africa, Sub-Regional Ambassador for the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), Board member of NASA's Earth Observations for SDGs (EO4SDGs), and the Chair of the Board of Mama Organization and Mtoto News. Amb. Thigo has co-authored insight reports at the World Economic Forum Global Councils on Food Systems Innovation and the Global Councils on the 4th Industrial Revolution for Global Public Goods, published with Social Watch, Global Voices, Foundation El Taller, Fetzer—Woodrow Wilson Institute of International Development, EISA, and Limerick University, amongst others. Amb. Thigo has previously held executive positions in International Organizations, Non-Profit Organizations, and social ventures in Africa, MENA & Latin America, where he has co-created initiatives such as Elections- Uchaguzi, Budget Tracking Tool for citizen engagement.