In a significant development for Kenya's burgeoning technology sector, President William Ruto officially inaugurated the Amazon Web Services Development Centre in Nairobi.

The centre, Amazon's second on the African continent, marks a pivotal moment in Kenya's journey towards becoming a technology and innovation hub.

The launch ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including the US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, and technology leaders from Amazon.

The Amazon Web Services Development Centre, aimed at fostering cloud computing skills among the country's youth, will also serve as a strategic base for Amazon to expand its presence in Africa.

Ruto emphasized the importance of this milestone for Kenya, stating, "This Centre affirms Kenya's attractiveness as an investment destination and recognizes the opportunities in our digital and ICT sectors."

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The announcement comes just two weeks after Ruto held discussions with Amazon Web Services (AWS) executives in New York, during which they solidified their commitment to furthering investment in Kenya.

"We agreed that Kenya will develop and sustain a conducive business environment that will allow them to expand their investment in Kenya," the president stated.

Strengthening education in Kenya is a key focus, with the president emphasizing the importance of building expertise to meet the demands of companies like Amazon.

"We will continue investing in education and building partnerships so that we can develop expertise to meet the needs of companies like Amazon," Ruto said.

US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, praised the decision by AWS to establish the development centre in Kenya, highlighting its significance.

"AWS is one of the most important tech companies in the world; the fact that they have decided to set up a development centre in Kenya speaks volumes about this country and this administration," Ambassador Whitman noted.

Robin Njiru, AWS regional lead, public sector sub-Sahara, acknowledged the Kenyan government's efforts to create a favourable environment for foreign-owned firms.

He commended the conducive investment climate and the country's tech-savvy youth, which have attracted global technology giants like Amazon.

Kenya's leadership in information and communication technology (ICT) both on the continent and globally has been steadily growing.

PRuto emphasized that technology is a crucial enabler for the country's economic growth.

"Kenya has emerged as one of the most exciting frontiers of global tech competitiveness, with high revolutionary potential across all sectors," Ruto said.

The launch event was attended by several notable dignitaries, including Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui, and Investment counter Hassan Abubakar, all of whom witnessed Kenya's continued evolution as a global tech powerhouse.

With the Amazon Web Services Development Centre now firmly established in Nairobi, Kenya is poised to further advance its role as a leader in technology and innovation on the African continent.