COUNTRY FOCUS: KENYA
“
THE CHANGE IN
PERSPECTIVE REQUIRED
FROM AFRICANS WITH REGARD
TO TECHNOLOGY IS MORE THAN
JUST ATTITUDINAL; THERE IS THE
CULTURAL ASPECT TOO.
Africa’s biggest challenge is that between
5–10% of the population is extremely
wealthy, with the rest struggling to meet
minimum living requirements.
With the cloud, new ecosystems that are
employing millions of people are being
birthed. In Kenya, where mobile money is
thriving, a whole ecosystem is emerging
around this budding industry.
Corine Mbiaketcha Nana, from Oracle
View cloud computing as an enabler
Take cloud computing, which has been in
use by some African companies for up to
15 years. However, it is finding further use
in more recent transformative technologies
such as drones, artificial intelligence,
blockchain and robots.
Drones are being used in the health sector
to deliver medicines, blood and other critical
medical supplies in hard-to-reach places in
Africa’s hinterland.
Similarly, with cloud, firms can gain new
market share through bespoke solutions
dedicated to the African market. This
could translate into job opportunities.
In the financial services space, as
well as manufacturing, investment in
data centres have opened-up many
opportunities. After all, a study by the
UNDP found that limited opportunities
for earning livelihoods is among the key
drivers of inequality on the continent.
Saharan Africa remains one of the most
unequal regions globally, with 10 of the 19
most unequal countries globally being on
the continent.
Technology is a strong enabler for efforts
to bridge this gap and put the continent
on a firm development path; it is the key
ingredient to inclusive development.
Through cloud computing, individuals,
irrespective of their trade, can improve
their livelihoods. From lawyers to chefs,
technology makes it easier to attract more
work and engage more with customers.
should not be thought of as a solution but
as an enabler. Thankfully, companies and
individuals no longer need to procure cloud
services; it is perfectly possible to pay-as-
you-go.
Technology touches everything and can
make a huge difference if it is used to
enhance the lives of citizens.
Statistics from the Communication
Authority of Kenya (CA) for the 2016/
2017 financial year estimated that the
country has 184,537 mobile money
agents, a figure which continues to
grow. All these are investments that are
generating returns for the owners and
creating employment opportunities
that were not there at the turn of
the century. In Kenya, where mobile
penetration is at an impressive 90.4%,
the opportunities for earning livelihoods
go beyond mobile money.
To take advantage of these rapid changes,
sustained strategic investments are required
to enhance the penetration of the cloud
to all parts of the continent and unlock its
potential to all.
The ensuing benefits would range from
social and economic impact to governance.
However, all this would have to start with a
mind shift among African people, companies
and governments. Technology needs to be
looked at in the right way.
Businesses often invest in technology as if
they are acquiring a commodity. The cloud
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INTELLIGENTCIO
Drones are being used
in the health sector
www.intelligentcio.com