US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman announced that the country was set to receive Ksh3.7 billion to finance data centres in Nairobi County.
Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday, January 19, the ambassador noted that the financing would go towards the expansion of the Africa Data Center.
She praised the financing plan disclosing that it was a great milestone for the country and would help revolutionise the tech industry.
Whitman explained that Kenya was a leading hub in technology in Kenya expressing optimism over the financing.
"I am delighted to announce Ksh3.7 billion (USD30 million) funding in support of the expansion of the Africa Data Centers here in Nairobi.
"Excited to tour the Africa Data Center and participate in the groundbreaking for their expansion – more than doubling their current capacity and securing Kenya’s digital infrastructure," she stated.
The diplomat also revealed that the financing was part of the Ksh37 billion pledge to the continent made in 2021.
However, she indicated that Kenya was the biggest beneficiary of the programmes aimed at improving the tech industry in the continent.
"What is happening in the Kenyan tech space is clear, opportunities are bound and investors are starting to recognise this. Kenya is now the largest recipient of ventured capital adjusted for GDP in the continent
"It is growing the fastest, thriving and driving Kenya's revolution," she stated.
Whitman was accompanied by her British counterpart, Jane Marriot, who expressed that the UK would also partner with Kenya in the sector.
"I am proud of the partnership between UK and Kenya investing in large scale infrastructure executed at scale, speed and with integrity," Marriot assured.
Data centres are cloud-neutral facilities and provide critical business data.
