#GES2015: President Kenyatta attributes Kenya’s innovation success to partnerships

President Uhuru Kenyatta during the official opening of the Pre-Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2015 Expo at KICC, Nairobi.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed Kenya’s success as a leader in Africa in innovation and entrepreneurship to the great partnerships the Government has with other international bodies as well as to the great technology ecosystem created through the partnerships.

He said this during the Official Opening of the Pre-Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2015 Expo at KICC, Nairobi.

“Kenyans are leading the way as the continent’s leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship. At the heart of their success is the powerful call to unity and mutual aid that we call Harambee, which since our independence, and long before then, has nurtured every Kenyan from birth, through school, and through every challenge we know. Beyond all the necessary business processes and contracts that power business, the spirit of Harambee animates the ability to nurture and grow partnerships which is crucial to successful business development,” said President Kenyatta.

He also added that in illustration of the Government’s role in nurturing partnership was demonstrated by its continuing support to innovation hubs like Nailab, the ICT Incubation Programme, now in its 5fth year which has supported 56 technology based start-up firms through mentorship, training and business support programs.

In relation to great partnerships that have evolved Kenya’s ecosystem, President Kenyatta alluded this to the partnership between the Government and IBM which saw the launch of IBM Research Lab in 2013.

“I have also sought to ensure that the Government creates an enabling environment for international partnerships and initiatives that will end up with the kinds of skills transfers and exposure that nurtures local enterprise. A prominent example is our strong support for the IBM Research Lab which was opened in2013 as one of 12 global research hubs, and the first of its kind in Africa. The Kenyan Government is investing 170 million Kenya Shillings, while IBM provided the hardware, software and high-end scientific expertise,” added President Kenyatta.

The IBM Research Lab focusses on providing solutions for African and global challenges such as the Twende Twende SMS system that helps local Nairobi commuters avoid traffic congestion. Crucially, its location at the Catholic University and its employ of Kenyans means that we are nurturing a world class group of technologists focused on business-ready applications.

The president also added that increasingly, world-class companies are looking to gain from the innovative spirit and hard work that Kenyans deliver. Among those at the forefront of these unique partnerships are the Columbia Global Centre, the Nokia Research Centre, and the World Bank-funded Climate Innovation Centre.

He also alluded Kenyan universities and colleges who are also at the forefront of the ICT revolution in the country. “Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, in conjunction with Microsoft, Intel, and Inspur, assembled a laptop known as Taifa which is currently on sale locally. These are only a few examples of an innovation and technology ecosystem that is bursting with productive energy,” he said.

President Kenyatta also added that Kenya’s energy, ICT and manufacturing sectors are expected to be the biggest beneficiaries of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) that opens in Nairobi on Friday.

“My Government hails the entrepreneur, we believe our job is to do our part to provide the environment that gives you the best chance for success. Your efforts, your courage and curiosity make me proud to welcome President Obama to Kenya to see for himself some of your efforts during the Global Entrepreneurship Summit,” he concluded.

The 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 25-26. It will be the sixth annual gathering of entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, business leaders, mentors, and high-level government officials.

Prior to Kenya GES has subsequently been hosted by the governments of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Morocco.

President Kenyatta will be co-hosting the summit with US President Barack Obama. Kenya looks into using the forum to strike deals that funnel investments in areas that will drive growth.