In response to the increasing demand for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) services in Africa, Oracle is preparing to establish a public cloud region in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of its global cloud infrastructure initiative.
Leading a delegation, Scott Twaddle, Oracle’s Senior Vice President overseeing OCI Product and Industries, met with H.E William Ruto, the President of Kenya, and Eliud Owalo, the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy in Kenya. During the meeting, Oracle reiterated its commitment to assisting Kenya in achieving its economic objectives and transformation through the deployment of cutting-edge cloud technologies. Oracle aims to capitalize on Kenya’s renewable energy resources and advanced digital infrastructure, including extensive submarine and national connectivity.
The forthcoming public cloud region in Nairobi demonstrates Oracle’s dedication to Africa and its objective to facilitate the digital transformation of various sectors in Kenya and across the continent, including government agencies, public institutions, enterprises, startups, universities, and investors. Oracle plans to further expand OCI’s presence on the continent, building upon its existing Oracle Cloud Johannesburg Region in South Africa.
With OCI’s distinct cloud architecture, Oracle is positioned to deliver its comprehensive suite of over 100 hyperscale cloud services, offering the Government of Kenya and the private sector opportunities to enhance the business environment in the country.
President William Ruto expressed his enthusiasm for Oracle’s significant investment in Kenya, emphasizing the potential benefits of advanced technologies such as AI and cloud applications in job creation and citizen empowerment.
Eliud Owalo, the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy in Kenya, highlighted Oracle’s planned public cloud region as a pivotal element of Kenya’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda. This initiative focuses on digital transformation, private sector development, agricultural transformation, housing development, and healthcare modernization.
Scott Twaddle reiterated Oracle’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s digital transformation efforts, emphasizing OCI’s role as a scalable and secure platform for driving innovation and transformation in governments and businesses worldwide. He emphasized Oracle’s strong presence in Kenya and the significant impact the upcoming public cloud region in Nairobi will have on the country’s economic objectives.
Rishon Chimboza, Managing Director for Africa at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), emphasized the importance of cloud infrastructure in expanding access to education, opportunities, and business potential. TBI expressed its continued support for the collaboration between the Kenyan government and Oracle to accelerate the realization of Kenyan ambitions through technology-driven approaches.
