A Continent Under Scrutiny.
2026 marks a turning point for governance in African institutions. Regulatory bodies across the continent are tightening requirements, investors are demanding transparency, and the public is less tolerant of institutional opacity.
In Kenya, the Capital Markets Authority has intensified its governance code requirements. In South Africa, King IV principles are becoming table stakes for listed companies. Nigeria's NDPR has added data governance to the compliance equation. And across the continent, institutional investors are asking harder questions about board effectiveness.
The Technology Gap.
Despite these pressures, most African institutions still manage governance with a combination of email, shared drives, and manual minute-taking. Board portals — where they exist — serve primarily as document distribution systems. The actual work of governance — deciding, tracking, proving — remains largely manual.
This gap is not sustainable. As regulatory expectations rise and institutional complexity grows, manual governance becomes a liability.
Building for the Context.
Governa was built in Kenya because we believe African institutions deserve governance technology that understands the context:
- Multi-language support for organisations operating across linguistic boundaries
- M-Pesa integration alongside Stripe for payment flexibility
- Data sovereignty controls that keep data in Africa when required
- Offline-capable mobile apps for directors who are often in transit
- Pricing in KES and USD with plans designed for the full range of institutional sizes
The Path Forward.
The institutions that will thrive in the next decade are those that treat governance not as a compliance exercise, but as a competitive advantage. When your board can demonstrate that every decision is tracked, every action is evidenced, and every regulatory obligation is mapped — that is not just good governance. That is trust, made visible.