The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) a grouping of 19 member countries three years ago initiated a programme to make the use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) widely acceptable in the region.A study was done on the state of FOSS in the region and recommendations made. As a follow up, COMESA has organized a regional FOSS conference which is taking place in Nairobi Kenya from the 14 – 16th of September 2011. During her opening speech, the Director for ICT in the Ministry of Information and Communication Ms. Loise Bosire, reiterated the Government of Kenya’s commitment to include FOSS in its national ICT plans and further noted that the draft Kenya ICT policy already has provisions that recognize the use of FOSS.The conference is attended by delegates representing the various governments of the COMESA member states and non-state actors like personnel from the academia, civil society and private sector.Delegates are expected to deliberate on wide ranging issues pertaining to FOSS in the region ranging from policy to community participation.