Linda Bonyo is a visionary Kenyan lawyer and tech entrepreneur revolutionising Africa’s legal landscape through technology. She began her legal career, specialising in commercial and immigration law. However, as the world rapidly adapted to digital advancements, she recognised the limitations of traditional legal practices and feared these constraints could hinder her career’s growth. This realisation prompted her to pivot into technology law, where she identified a critical gap in legal expertise related to emerging digital technologies.
Driven by the need to innovate Africa’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, Bonyo envisioned a space where law and technology could intersect intelligently. This vision culminated in the founding of Lawyers Hub in 2018. The Hub was established to equip African lawyers with the necessary skills in technology law while promoting digital policy innovation. The mission of Lawyers Hub is clear: to empower legal practitioners, foster innovation, and advocate for robust legal frameworks that support Africa’s digital transformation. Through this initiative, African lawyers are not just participants in the digital revolution—they are poised to lead it.
The founding of Lawyers Hub came at a pivotal time, coinciding with the growing demand for legal professionals who can navigate the complexities of the digital age. The Hub offers various services, including policy briefs, capacity-building workshops, and legal innovation programs. These initiatives equip lawyers with the tools to thrive in a tech-driven world.
In 2020, Linda Bonyo launched the Africa Law and Tech Festival, an annual event that has since grown into the largest gathering of digital policy experts on the continent. Now in its fifth year, the festival brings together over 2,500 professionals from 40+ countries, including lawyers, policymakers, startups, civil society groups, regulators, and bar associations. They convene to discuss the regulation of emerging technologies in Africa. The 2024 edition, held in August, set a new record with over 11,000 attendees from 75+ countries.
The success of Lawyers Hub has been amplified through strategic partnerships and collaborations, enabling it to impact over 28,000 leaders in law and technology across 41 countries since its inception. Central to these collaborations are discussions on critical issues such as artificial intelligence, digital taxation, data and elections, and digital identity. These conversations create a platform for legal experts and tech innovators to collaborate on forward-thinking policies. Policymakers from over 20 African countries are actively engaged, working to develop frameworks that address regional challenges and foster a dynamic, inclusive tech ecosystem.
Over the past seven years, Bonyo’s work through Lawyers Hub has facilitated significant collaborations between governments, tech innovators, and legal professionals. One of the hub’s standout achievements is its policy briefs, which have directly influenced legislation in several African countries. These briefs serve as essential resources for policymakers, helping them craft legislation that supports a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Linda Bonyo’s influence extends beyond Lawyers Hub. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Council on Technology Policy (2023-2025) and the G20 Digital Working Group. She has also served on the African Union’s Data Policy Framework Technical Committee, the Digital Public Goods Alliance, and the Data2Policy Initiative. She also consults for the United Nations.
Her impact on Africa’s legal and tech landscapes is profound. She has created new opportunities for collaboration and innovation through her efforts, ensuring that African legal professionals and tech innovators are at the forefront of the continent’s digital revolution. By bridging the gap between law and technology, Linda Bonyo is helping Africa set new standards for the rest of the world to follow.
