Kenya: Uhuru Kenyatta Met With the Microsoft Global President

with Microsoft Global President, Jean-Philippe Courtois and Dr. Fred Matiangi, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology — at State House.

meeting with the Microsoft Global President, Jean-Philippe Courtois who called on me at State House, Nairobi. — at State House.

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President secures support of Microsoft for computer to schools programme, Nairobi June 4, 2013 PPS

President Uhuru Kenyatta has today secured support of Microsoft International in the implementation of the computer to schools programme in the country.

In a meeting held today at State House Nairobi, Microsoft Global President Mr. Jean-Philippe Courtois said his company will support the Government in training all primary school teachers to enable them implement computer to schools programmes by January next year.

Mr. Courtois further said his company will work with different partners to develop at least five enterprises in each County to provide technical support in hardware, connectivity and software to all schools in the country.

He also assured the President that his organization will develop a research and innovation hub at Konza Technology Park to support software developers in the country adding that through Microsoft’s universal access to broadband programme, the company will provide connectivity to rural schools, hospitals and homes.

In welcoming the support of Microsoft, President Kenyatta said his Government is ready to enter into partnerships that will facilitate the implementation of ICT programmes in the country in a cost-effective manner.

The President assured Mr. Courtois that his Government will provide all the facilitation needed to roll out the partnership in line with the existing laws and regulations.

The President further called upon the ministry of Education and Information Commination and Technology to work closely together with Microsoft in order to come up with a framework of rolling out the partnership immediately.

Emphasizing that the country has great potential to be a global center of ICT, the Head of State said he will not allow Kenya to be a recipient of content saying that his Government will empower citizens, especially the youth, to develop ICT programmes themselves.

The President also asked Microsoft International to develop a sustainable model that includes local assembly of computers as well as local software and content development which can be replicated in other African
countries.

Present during the meeting were ICT Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr. Francis Kememia, and Permanent Secretaries Dr. Bitange Ndemo (Information and Communication) and Prof. George Godia (Education).