President Ruto visits Silicon Valley, meets Apple, Google, Intel chiefs to sell Kenya as prime tech centre

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

US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman was present. 

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Ruto 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."

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.

“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 stated.