Ruto, Biden stress digital cooperation as key to Kenya-US ties

To mark 60 years of Kenya-US relations, President William Ruto and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden have emphasised the transformative potential of technological cooperation between the two countries.

The leaders expressed optimism about the future, highlighting the vital role of innovation in driving economic growth and societal progress.

President Ruto, addressing the gathering during a roundtable on technology at the White House in Washington, D.C on Wednesday, stressed the deep-rooted friendship between Kenya and the United States and the exciting opportunities it presents.

"Mr. President, under your leadership, we believe that as we celebrate these 60 years of relationship between our two countries, we also celebrate the opportunities that come with a friendship that exists between our nations," he stated.

Ruto further emphasised the critical role of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in this evolving partnership.

The Head of State detailed Kenya's ambitious plans to expand its digital infrastructure.

"We are expanding our footprint in the digital space. We are rolling out 100,000 kilometres of fibre optic in Kenya, connecting every ward and every village to a fibre backbone. This will ensure that E-commerce, digital jobs, and digital learning are accessible to every child in Kenya," Ruto said.

President Biden, in return, praised the resilience and insight of the Kenyans. "I can't think of a better way to kick off this visit. When I visited Nairobi as Vice President, I said that the true strength of Kenya was its people," Biden recalled. Biden was in Nairobi in July 2020 for a three-day official visit to Kenya.

Going further, the U.S. President noted the contributions of students, workers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to both democracies.

"Today, as we honour 60 years of ties between our countries, it's clear that our people are the true strength of this partnership," Biden affirmed.

Biden highlighted the significance of innovation in the bilateral relationship, stating, "Nowhere is it more important than in the realm of innovation. That's why we have so many businesses around this table, from Silicon Valley to Silicon Savannah. Our people have pioneered new technologies that are transforming millions of lives."

Both Ruto and Biden acknowledged the crucial role of public-private partnerships in driving this technological revolution.

"Our message is straightforward and simple: Thank you, and keep it up. We're going to see more technological change in the next 10 years than we've seen in the last 50 years," Biden stated.

Hinting at more future collaborations, President Biden mentioned Vice President Kamala Harris's efforts to build a new public-private partnership to increase investments in innovation.

"Our cooperation matters not just for our people but for people around the world. If this relationship continues to grow, it will have positive benefits globally," Biden asserted.

At the same time, President Ruto emphasised that Africa is ready to lead in tackling climate change.

"The time when Africa used to play the victim is long gone," he said.

Ruto reiterated this sentiment, affirming that Africa has awakened and is eager to contribute to climate change solutions.

"We came up with a roadmap during the Africa Climate Summit of 2023 that Africa is no longer going to play victim again. We are going to be part of the solution," he added.

The President highlighted Africa's wealth of resources, noting that the continent has the most renewable energy sources, the largest uncultivated arable land for food security, and the youngest population, making it a significant asset.

"We have the youngest young people. Our median age is 19. In fact, 40 per cent of the world's workforce by 2050 will live on the African continent. A quarter of the world's population by 2050 will also be living in Africa," he pointed out.

In addition, Ruto insisted that these assets have driven Africa's resolve to collaborate with the United States.