President Ruto Visits Silicon Valley, Meets Apple, Google, Intel Bosses

President William Ruto on Saturday visited Silicon Valley in San Francisco Bay, US, to sell Kenya as a prime technology hub.

The President met Apple CEO Tim Cook, Intel’s Pat Gelsinger, Google CFO Ruth Porat and executives from Nike, GAP and Levi Strauss.

Also present was US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman.

The head of state lauded Google for “actively contributing to Kenya’s development by granting Ksh 600M (USD 5M) to enhance connectivity for crucial citizen services, assist in affordable smartphone device creation and support SMEs through the Google Hustle Academy.”

Kenya has plenty of opportunities to offer American technology and manufacturing companies, particularly its potential as a vital African base and prime centre for tech, manufacturing, connectivity, infrastructure development and garment fabrication. pic.twitter.com/G9gpbZicbP

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 16, 2023

He added that Apple is working with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to enhance the country’s healthcare technology and innovation.

“I believe that contact with such companies as Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Google and Intel provide a firm grounding for our future tech entrepreneurs in an environment where possibilities continuously germinate and thrive, thus enriching Kenya’s entrepreneurial dynamism,” he said.

Dr Ruto also urged international tech giants to invest in Kenya as the ‘gateway to the Silicon Savannah’ where he boasted of the nation’s potential as the continent’s tech hub.

“Kenya is your gateway to the Silicon Savannah, to the East African Community, the most integrated regional market of 500 million, and a Pan-African market of 1.4 billion. If you build it in Kenya, it works for Africa, and if you set up in Kenya, your African footprint is guaranteed,” Ruto said.