US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman praised the progress President William Ruto's administration has taken to improve Kenya's business environment.
In his remarks ahead of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kenya and the United States, Ambassador Whitman noted that there have been significant changes in Kenya's business environment since President Ruto assumed office in 2022.
Since taking office in 2022, President Ruto has spearheaded reforms aimed at promoting economic growth and attracting foreign investment. Ambassador Whitman highlighted three vital changes, including the elimination of value added tax (VAT) on exported services, the elimination of domestic capital requirements for ICT companies, and the activation of special economic zones.
Speaking at the launch of the Call Centers International (CCI) Global Contact Center in Tatu City, Kiambu County on Friday, May 10, Ambassador Whitman highlighted the concrete benefits of these reforms.
He noted that the elimination of value added tax on exported services has already led to three US companies – JetBlue, AT&T and T-Mobile – setting up operations in Kenya, thereby contributing to job creation and economic expansion.
A photo of President William Ruto (center), US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman (left), and former diplomatic CS Alfred Mutua (right) visiting Silicon Valley in San Francisco, USA on September 15, 2023.
PCS
“For Kenya to truly become the Singapore of Africa, we need to grow our GDP by 6-8% a year and create one million new, high-paying jobs every year over the next 10 years,” Ambassador Whitman said.
President Ruto echoed this sentiment and reaffirmed the company's determination to implement policies that will support the growth of IT-enabled services, particularly in the field of business process outsourcing (BPO).
President Ruto highlighted Kenya's competitive advantages, including its skilled workforce, strategic geographical location and proficiency in the English language, and outlined plans to invest in digital infrastructure to foster job creation and economic empowerment. .
The launch of the CCI Global Contact Center in Tatu City has already created more than 5,000 jobs and demonstrates Kenya’s progress in leveraging technology to drive economic growth.
“We are determined to claim a fair share of the BPO pie for the benefit of young men and women who want to contribute to economic growth,” he said.
President Ruto asserted that the government is fully committed to providing incentives and creating an enabling environment to attract further investment in the digital space.
As Kenya looks to the future, Ambassador Whitman expressed optimism about future agreements expected to be signed during President Ruto's visit to the White House. These agreements will further deepen the Kenya-US partnership and further strengthen Kenya's position as a hub for innovation and investment in Africa, she said.
President William Ruto at the Atti River manufacturing plant on April 23, 2024.
PCS
