Kenya is seeking to deepen its strategic partnership with Nigeria in communications, technology and the digital economy as the two countries position themselves to play a greater role in shaping Africa’s technological and economic future.
Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo hosted Dr Ike Nalieku, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, for talks centred on strengthening cooperation between Kenya and Nigeria in public relations, communications and digital integration.
The discussions placed particular emphasis on the need for Africans to take greater ownership of the continent’s narrative and ensure that Africa tells its story to the world from an informed, authentic and distinctly African perspective.
Mr Kabogo said stronger communications networks and professional public relations would be critical in advancing continental integration, particularly at a time when technology is transforming how governments, businesses and citizens communicate.
The meeting also considered preparations for a major communications and public relations gathering in Abuja, Nigeria, expected to bring together African and international leaders and practitioners to exchange ideas, share professional knowledge and promote responsible public communication.
The forum is expected to provide an avenue for discussions on digital integration, connectivity, culture and the contribution of communications to Pan-African cooperation and Africa’s global image.
Mr Kabogo said Kenya remained committed to working with Nigeria and other African countries to advance initiatives that promote integration in technology, communications, trade and culture.
Present during the meeting was Peter Mutie, Chairman of the College of Fellows of the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), alongside government officials.
The engagements came as Kenya continued to explore new investments and partnerships aimed at expanding its digital infrastructure and strengthening its position as a technology hub in the region.
In a separate engagement, Mr Kabogo held talks with Dr Theodore Theodoropoulos, Chief Executive Officer of AMACO Energy S.A., over an innovative proposal to establish an integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered data centre infrastructure in Mombasa.
The proposed development would bring together power generation, cooling systems, LNG storage and regasification facilities, as well as AI-ready data centres within an integrated facility.
The model is intended to provide reliable and dedicated electricity for data centres while improving operational efficiency and potentially reducing the cost of powering large-scale, energy-intensive digital infrastructure.
The proposal comes at a time when demand for data centres is increasing rapidly across Africa, driven by cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital financial services, e-commerce and the wider adoption of digital technologies.
For Kenya, Mombasa offers a strategic advantage because of its location on major international submarine fibre-optic cable routes and its deep-water port infrastructure.
The combination of high-capacity international connectivity and access to port facilities could strengthen Mombasa’s prospects as a regional centre for data storage, cloud computing and other digital services.
Mr Kabogo welcomed the proposal, saying the Government was open to innovative solutions capable of accelerating the growth of Kenya’s digital economy.
The development of energy-efficient and reliable data centres is increasingly viewed as essential to Kenya’s ambitions of becoming a leading digital services and technology hub in Africa.
Mr Kabogo also chaired a meeting with a delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Kenya led by its Chief Executive Officer, Paul Muthaura, as Nairobi and Washington explored opportunities for deeper cooperation in the digital economy.
The talks covered artificial intelligence, digital skills and employment, cybersecurity, data governance, cross-border data flows and investment.
The discussions are particularly significant as Kenya seeks to attract technology investment while building the skills required to enable its young population to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
Mr Kabogo stressed that investment in digital skills must ultimately translate into tangible economic opportunities for young Kenyans.
He said collaboration with American technology companies would be necessary to ensure training programmes correspond to industry requirements and provide young people with clear pathways from training to certification, employment and entrepreneurship.
The approach seeks to bridge the persistent gap between classroom-based digital training and the skills demanded by employers in the rapidly changing technology sector.
Kenya has increasingly positioned itself as a regional technology hub, supported by its expanding digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystem, financial technology sector and growing pool of technology professionals.
The talks with AmCham are also expected to feed into the upcoming AmCham Summit in September, which is expected to provide a platform for converting discussions between government and the private sector into concrete partnerships, investments and commitments.
The Government has maintained that stronger cooperation with international technology companies, coupled with investment in digital infrastructure and human capital, will be central to expanding employment opportunities and driving economic growth.
Taken together, the engagements underline Kenya’s broader strategy of using connectivity, technology, communications and international partnerships to strengthen its position in the global digital economy while promoting closer African integration.
For Nairobi, the priority is not only to attract technology infrastructure and foreign investment, but also to ensure that the digital transformation creates jobs, strengthens local enterprises and gives African countries a stronger voice in determining the continent’s technological future.
