PS Tanui to engineers: Create and produce more tech products

ICT and Digital Economy PS John Tanui during the third day of Safaricom’s Decode East Africa Expo at Sarit Centre on March 20, 1015/ HANDOUT

Young engineers have been called upon to step up their game and use technology to create and produce more products for the country.

 ICT and Digital Economy PS John Tanui said engineers have been trained to produce and create products.

He added that the government will continue to look at the policy space and how to facilitate manufacturing in the country. This, he, said, will not only apply to smart devices but also to other products.

“Malaysia exports 50 times what we export, South Korea exports 100 times what we export, and they beat us in the focus sector, the electronics, electricals and smart space. I want to encourage our young people and enterprises like Safaricom to focus. It is not only big companies like Safaricom but also others,” PS Tanui added.

The PS said the government will continue to look at the policy space and how to facilitate manufacturing in the country. This, he, said will not only apply to smart devices but also to other products.

“We have seen the manufacture of fibre using the Safaricom network manufactured locally. Two years ago, 100 per cent of fibre was being imported into the country, today; a significant percentage is actually produced in our country. This is starting to happen in terms of smart manufacturing,” the PS said.

“We want to challenge the young people to explore and look at what are other products that we can manufacture. A challenge to our engineers, engineers are trained for one purpose, to create and produce things, that is a privileged position, let us take advantage of this and encourage our techies to play their role and create products in our country,” he added.

The PS called on young engineers and people who are in technology to challenge the government on where they should improve.

He added that there should be a strong linkage between the industry and the academia saying the state is willing to facilitate the process.

“We are happy to see universities building stronger collaboration with the private sector; this is what we want to deepen and encourage. If you are starting a business as a young person, link up with academia so that your business will be anchored on knowledge.

He spoke on Thursday during the third day of Safaricom’s Decode East Africa Expo.

The third edition of the annual Safaricom Engineering Summit provided a platform for young engineers, scientists, tech enthusiasts, innovators, and stakeholders to engage in knowledge exchange, and discussions and envision the future of engineering.

Safaricom Decode served as a platform to showcase engineering excellence, cutting-edge technology advancements, and thought leadership while also emphasizing the alignment with national strategies, the promotion of financial inclusion, and the responsible use of technology, all in pursuit of shaping Kenya's digital future.

The summit featured presentations by industry experts in different fields who shared how emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are reshaping business operations and amplifying human potential in all spheres of life.

The participants were treated to a showcase of the country’s and Safaricom’s engineering practices and products in fintech, such as the Virtual Reality experiences and games, and other innovations from partners and sponsors.