Kenyan president on 'charm offensive' in Silicon Valley

2023-09-17T21:43:46.825Z

Highlights: Kenyan President William Ruto is on a seduction mission in the United States. Before the UN General Assembly, he stopped in California to visit Silicon Valley. He met with senior executives from Apple, Intel, Google and Microsoft. Several American giants have already settled there, including Microsoft, which has established a research and development center in Nairobi. According to the Kenyan presidency, Apple has indicated that it is considering the country to install a developer academy. The Kenyan president's plan is to strengthen Kenya's position as a technology hub on the African continent.

Kenyan President William Ruto is on a seduction mission in the United States. Before the UN General Assembly, he stopped in California to visit Silicon Valley.

Kenyan president on 'charm offensive' in Silicon Valley

Kenyan President William Ruto is on a seduction mission in the United States. Before the UN General Assembly, he stopped in California to visit Silicon Valley.

Kenyan President William Ruto, March 28, 2023. © REUTERS/Michele Tantussi

By: RFI Follow

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With our correspondent in Nairobi, Albane Thirouard

In Silicon Valley, the Kenyan head of state toured the American giants on Friday and Saturday, September 16. He met with senior executives from Apple, Intel, Google and Microsoft, among others. On X (ex-Twitter), he called on companies to come and set up in Kenya.

Kenyan presidential communication assumes it: it is "a charm offensive" that President William Ruto has undertaken in California. In front of the tech giants, he praised Kenya's assets, namely: a stable country, a skilled workforce, green energy or a high penetration of mobile phones and the Internet. As an example, he cited the success of M-pesa, the mobile payment system.

Above all, the Kenyan head of state promised a business-friendly economic environment. Yet his government has just doubled a tax on digital services. Reduced from 1.5% to 3%, it targets all those who benefit from services on the Internet, such as the digital giants.

This visit is part of the Kenyan president's plan to strengthen Kenya's position as a technology hub on the African continent. Several American giants have already settled there, including Microsoft, which has established a research and development center in Nairobi. Others may follow. William Ruto got several promises during his tour of Silicon Valley. According to the Kenyan presidency, Apple has indicated that it is considering the country to install a developer academy.

Kenyan president on 'charm offensive' in Silicon Valley

Kenyan president on 'charm offensive' in Silicon Valley

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