Prof. Bitange Ndemo on Tuesday, October 19 presented his credentials to the King of Belgium after settling into his new role as Kenya’s ambassador to the European nation. While few Kenyans typically care for such ceremonies, Ndemo’s was met with a deluge of congratulatory message from Kenyans online.
He is one of Kenya’s most celebrated technocrats for a reason. Today, Kenya’s startup ecosystem is considered among the most developed on the continent and remains a top destination for Venture Capital (VC) funding in Africa, only rivaled by Nigeria. In addition to homegrown startups making waves, global giants such as Google and Microsoft today have all set up shop in the country, which has positioned itself as a tech haven.
Ndemo’s influence in the growth of Kenya’s technology ecosystem during his stint as Permanent Secretary in former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration endeared him to many Kenyans. He is among key figures credited with spearheading and accelerating the development of what came to be known as Silicon Savannah. Others include Safaricom’s former CEO and Chairman Michael Joseph who led the roll-out of the game-changing M-Pesa mobile money platform.
One of Ndemo’s biggest wins was helping vastly improve connectivity in Kenya. He reportedly convinced Kibaki to back Kenya’s connection to the the global broadband network, with a fibre optic undersea cable landing at the Port of Mombasa in 2009. Prior to that moment, Kenya was reliant on slow and expensive satellite internet links, holding back economic growth and possibilities for business.
Other initiatives he was associated with was a reduction in mobile termination rates (MTRs) lowering the price of phone calls, and Kenya Open Data – facilitating public access to important data on the country, its people and economy.
His new diplomatic role puts him in a central position in Kenya’s relationship with Belgium and the European Union (EU) at large. Belgium’s capital, Brussels, hosts the official seats of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Council.
But while he is certainly up to the task, Kenyans will likely continue to associate him with the growth of the technology sector in Kenya. In fact, many online called for him to be recalled to allow him to take up an IT-related role in President William Ruto’s administration.
Ndemo holds a PhD in Industrial Economics from the University of Sheffield (UK), an MBA from the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota, US) and bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Minnesota. He sits on various boards, is a Nation columnist and was a Professor of Entrepreneurship at University of Nairobi (UoN).
