The 14th Esri Eastern Africa User Conference (#EAUC2025) held from May 6th to May 9th, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, was a vibrant gathering of GIS professionals, thought leaders, and innovators from across the region. Centered around the theme “GIS – Uniting our World Through Positive Action,” the conference underscored how geographic information systems (GIS) can address regional and global challenges.

A Commitment to Conservation

The conference began with the Esri Conservation Summit on May 6th, where environmental experts shared insights on leveraging GIS for conservation and sustainable development. The summit set the tone for the main conference, emphasizing the role of spatial technology in environmental stewardship.

Day 1: Setting the Agenda for GIS-Driven Solutions

Day 1 commenced with registrations and an opening plenary session led by Victor Mutua. Keynote addresses from Samuel Kimani (CEO, Esri Eastern Africa), Dean Angelides (Esri Inc.), and Joseph Obonyo (CTO, Esri EA) outlined the transformative potential of GIS in fostering positive action.

Parallel sessions explored diverse GIS applications, including:

• Spatial Insights for a Greener Future by Herine Ondolo & Ngugi Thuo of Flux Carbon.
• Modeling Sugarcane Yields with Random Forests in ArcGIS by Eric Lwambe from the Kenya Sugar Board.
• Drought Monitoring with Machine Learning by Paul Wainaina Kimani of DeKUT.

The day concluded with a thought-provoking panel discussion on the future of GIS, tackling challenges and opportunities in the industry.

Day 2: Innovative GIS Applications Take the Stage

Day 2 focused on groundbreaking GIS innovations. One of the highlights was a presentation by Daniel Haywood (Ramani) on emerging spatial technologies. Other notable sessions included:

• Powering Africa’s Future by Dalberg Research’s Alex Asiliba & Phoebe Njoroge.
• GIS at KenGen: Centralizing Data, Maximizing Impact by Ephraim Muya.
• GIS for Livestock Development in the IGAD Region by Julius Muyizzi.

Day 3: Field Excursion to Experience GIS in Action

The final day took participants on an ArcSafari Field Excursion, providing hands-on experience with GIS applications in real-world scenarios.

A Platform for Collaboration and Innovation

The 14th EAUC brought together experts and enthusiasts to discuss, learn, and shape the future of GIS in the region. The networking opportunities and knowledge sharing were invaluable, fostering partnerships aimed at leveraging spatial intelligence for sustainable development.

The organizers extended their gratitude to all participants, speakers, and partners who made #EAUC2025 a success. As the conference concluded, attendees left inspired to apply GIS-driven solutions to real-world challenges.

Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming events and insights from the GIS community!