Despite Rankings, Kenya’s Technological Advancements Pose a Significant Impact on Africa

The rapid growth of African tech start-ups is an undeniable trend. From the bustling streets of Lagos to the high-veld of Johannesburg, and across to Nairobi’s bustling tech scene, innovation is the fuel powering African economies. While Nigeria and South Africa have historically been recognized for their higher technology appreciation levels, Kenya is earnestly catching up.

Although several rankings list Kenya as the fourth most technologically advanced nation in Africa, their progress is no less noteworthy, particularly given the resource challenges common in many African countries. Remarkably, of the thirty startups chosen to pitch ideas at the prestigious Demo Africa event this September, eight came from Kenya. This was on par with Nigeria and outnumbered South Africa by five.

To put it into context, Kenya’s population of about 47 million is significantly less compared to South Africa’s 51 million and Nigeria’s whopping population of over 180 million. Given these figures, the number of successful startups originating from Kenya speaks volumes about its vibrant tech climate.

From urban to rural technologies, innovative transformations are touching every aspect of life in Kenya. Broadly recognized innovations like M-Pesa have genuinely revolutionized mobile banking, while emerging technologies such as water dispensing ATMs speak to the country’s capacity to leverage technology to address pressing societal issues.

In the heart of Kenya’s capital, you’ll find a four-story hub teeming with enterprising tech innovators affectionately referred to as “Ninjas” and “Pirates.” Their mission statement is as unique as their monikers – finding solutions to everyday problems, from the notorious Nairobi traffic gridlock to broader socio-economic issues.

These tech enthusiasts, armed with sticker-adorned laptops, congregate in this buzzing tech incubation center known as iHub. So far, this innovative space has been the birthplace of 150 startups and generated more than 1,300 jobs. iHub has also managed to secure partnerships with global tech giants, including Google, Microsoft, and Intel.

The “Ninjas,” self-titled developers, brainstorm product ideas while the “Pirates” focus on securing funding for their projects. The iHub accommodates a variety of vibrant spaces, including startup incubators, a user-experience lab, a dedicated hardware development workshop, and a community area.

iHub has a profound purpose beyond simply being a meeting place for like-minded tech enthusiasts. “The importance of ecosystems like this is to create startups that then create jobs, that create value and that give back to the economy,” asserts Juliana Rotich, a trustee of iHub.

Fueled by this vibrant tech scene and collaborative atmosphere, Kenyan entrepreneurs have conceived groundbreaking projects like Ushahidi. Established as an open-source software, Ushahidi facilitates the sharing of information and interactive maps to preempt conflicts and facilitate disaster relief efforts. With adaptability in 31 languages and utilization across 159 countries, Ushahidi, Swahili for “testimony,” has proven invaluable in disaster-stricken regions such as Haiti and Nepal.

In 2014, Kenya’s robust tech sector accounted for approximately 8.4% of the nation’s GDP. Juliana Rotich, one of Ushahidi’s developers, anticipates further growth in this sector. Rotich’s personal mission embodies the spirit prevalent in Kenya’s growing tech community. “My personal mission is to make something of value, or work with people to make something that fixes a problem, and also to help others,” she iterates. This commitment is the propellant behind Kenya’s swift ascension in Africa’s technology landscape.

Source: Bloomberg