China's Huawei lauded for promoting ICT in Kenya

NAIROBI - A senior Kenyan official on Monday lauded Chinese tech firm Huawei for promoting information and communications technology (ICT) in the country as well as providing know-how training for local students.

The director of the ICT Authority, Eunice Kariuki, made the remarks while attending the launch of Huawei's three-day Smart Cities Exhibition in the capital Nairobi.

Kariuki said Huawei had made contributions to the country's ICT sector and that its products had been embraced by Kenyans.

"Industry players in Kenya appreciate Huawei's commitment in the ICT space during which time the company has been involved in both transformative projects and social responsibility engagements," she said.

Kariuki said Huawei had been supporting the Kenyan government and local students.

"Huawei donated various devices like tablets to government officials to enable them to work while on the move. Every year the company also sends 10 outstanding ICT students to China for two weeks to gain international exposure," she said.

Last year, Huawei, in cooperation with Kenyan police and a local telecom company, facilitated the delivery of a Safe City project which authorities said has led to a decline in crime rates by 46 percent in cities where Huawei installed CCTV surveillance cameras.

Guo Ce, a Chinese consular official in Kenya, described Huawei as a representative of the goodwill that continues to exist between China and Kenya.

"Huawei has created more than 400 jobs in Kenya both directly and indirectly; it has invested about $1 million to establish a training center in Kenya with the latest and the best equipment to train locals in the latest communication technology," Guo said.

Huawei Kenya Vice-General Manager, Freddie Zhang, said the company had been building a better-connected Kenya for almost two decades, adding the company was committed to accelerating the ICT development in the country.

Zhang said Huawei's smart city solutions will help Kenya build safer and better residential, business and tourism environments in cities to attract investment and increase employment.