Grace Ashiru
Kenya has chosen Microsoft as its primary cloud partner in an ambitious move to shift its government services to the Azure cloud platform, outperforming competitors like Amazon and Google. This partnership is expected ⁷to significantly enhance Kenya’s efforts in digital transformation.
The ICT Authority (ICTA) and the ICT ministry witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft. The agreement stipulates that Microsoft will support the Kenyan government in implementing a cloud-first approach, aiming to revolutionize the delivery of public services through technology. This initiative is also focused on boosting efficiency in the provision of e-government services to citizens, as outlined in the ICTA’s statement.
Microsoft, a pioneering technology firm, established its African Development Centre (ADC) in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019. Since then, it has been actively collaborating with local entities, including universities, and has played a crucial role in updating the computer science curriculum in Kenyan colleges.
Similarly, other cloud service providers like Huawei engage with the Kenyan government in various projects. Notably, Huawei is contributing to the expansion of Kenya’s fiber network through the National Optic Fibre Network Backhaul Initiative (NOFBI).
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has also marked its presence in Nairobi by opening a development center, its second in Africa following the one in Cape Town, South Africa. President Ruto highlighted the importance of this center, emphasizing its contribution to strengthening AWS’s corporate citizenship. The center is expected to facilitate effective interactions among the government, clients, start-ups, and other stakeholders.
