Kenya’s tech community will have a session with England’s King during a visit to Kenya at the end of the month.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will undertake a State Visit to Kenya, from Tuesday 31st October to Friday 3rd November 2023, to celebrate the warm relationship between the two countries and the strong and dynamic partnership they continue to forge.
His Majesty will attend a technology showcase, meeting Kenyan entrepreneurs who are driving forward innovation in the country’s tech sector. Kenya has the third largest start up eco-system in Africa.
With over 1000 startups in different sectors, the startup ecosystem is relatively young but is ranked as the third-best in Africa and first in East Africa.
The ecosystem’s growth can be traced back to 2006 when an underwater internet cable was deployed, resulting in a surge in connectivity and the establishment of some of the first startups. The usage of mobile phones and the internet also grew, leading to the formation of Mpesa, which was later adopted by Safaricom.
The creation of iHub, one of Kenya’s first tech hub in 2008 provided an environment for businesses to incubate and thrive. The Kenyan government also initiated Tandaa Grants to encourage entrepreneurs, with 45 startups or enterprises funded between 2010 and 2012. The ecosystem has attracted a growing number of investors globally due to its large population with access to technology and the increasing number of support organizations.
A statement from the United Kingdom says the visit of King and Queen is at the invitation of President Ruto and comes as Kenya prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence. His Majesty’s first visit to a Commonwealth nation as King is therefore to the country in which Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began, having acceded to the throne in Kenya in February 1952.
The King and Queen will visit Nairobi City County, Mombasa County and surrounding areas. Their Majesties’ programme will reflect the ways in which Kenya and the United Kingdom are working together, notably to boost mutual prosperity, tackle climate change, promote youth opportunity and employment, advance sustainable development and create a more stable and secure region.
During the visit, Their Majesties will meet President Ruto and the First Lady as well as and other members of the Kenyan Government, UN staff, CEOs, faith leaders, young people, future leaders and Kenyan Marines training with UK Royal Marines.
