Nairobi, 22nd August 2024
The Nairobi Innovate Tech Week 2024 marked its second day with H.E Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri delivering a keynote speech on the significance of the event as a crucial platform for showcasing the talents and capabilities of Nairobi’s youth.
Deputy Governor Muchiri emphasized the county’s commitment to substantial investments in both infrastructure and digital frameworks through public-private partnerships aimed at enhancing service delivery in the rapidly growing city. “Nairobi is expanding at an unprecedented rate, and our public services must continuously evolve to meet the needs of our population. Our goal is to bring services closer to the residents,” he stated, citing the County’s monthly hackathons at the University of Nairobi with a focus on developing solutions for local challenges.
Mr. Muchiri also stressed the importance of community feedback in shaping future initiatives, urging participants and industry stakeholders to prioritize the annual Innovate Nairobi Tech Week. “This community-driven initiative is not just a stepping stone but a driving force in our journey toward making Nairobi a Smart City, where technology meets the real needs of our people,” he remarked.
County Chief Officer for Revenue Administration and Acting Chief Officer for ICT Infrastructure, Tiras Njoroge, spoke on Fintech and revenue mobilization, elaborating on the significance of Nairobi Pay as Nairobi County’s revenue system. “Nairobi Pay is a significant leap forward in how we streamline interactions between residents and Nairobi County Government services. This payment system integrates seamlessly with every government service, creating a centralized platform for all service-related transactions,” he explained.
Mr. Njoroge further shared that Nairobi Pay is integrated with banks and M-Pesa, ensuring a smooth and efficient payment process. “Whether you’re paying for permits or accessing other county services, you can now do so quickly and conveniently through your preferred payment method,” he added, reaffirming Nairobi County’s commitment to transparency and efficiency in public services as well as encouraging more innovation around County systems to enhance and improve them.
The Innovate Nairobi Tech Week 2024, themed “Innovation for All: Crafting a Tech-Driven Future of Boundless Opportunity,” runs from 21st to 23rd August 2024.
This three-day event features a diverse array of activities, including hackathon presentations, programs for kids and teens, breakout sessions, and specialized tracks on Talent, Web 3, Cybersecurity, Climate Change, Investment, Startup Policy, Education, Health, Media and the Creative Economy, Hardware and Robotics, Smart Cities, Fintech, and Digital Inclusion.
Today’s panel discussions focused on Fintech, AI, and Women in Tech, where the panelists addressed queries, concerns as well as provided insights on the respective tracks.
Present was County Executive for Innovation and Digital Economy, Mike Gumo, Chief Officer for Digital Economy and Startups Sub-sector, Sande Oyolo, County Director for Digital Economy and Startups, Elizabeth Ndung’u, County Staff, Secretary General of the Association of Fintechs, Munyi Nthiga, Board Member of Konza Technopolis, Peter Muchendu, Deputy CEO of Government Affairs Department at Huawei Kenya, Adam Lane, and Group Chief Technology, Innovation Officer at Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Ben Roberts, among other stakeholders.
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