Nairobi, Kenya… The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has launched its first African regional engagement office in Nairobi. ICANN made the announcement today at a press briefing during bilateral engagements with the ICT Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Joe Mucheru. Tarek Kamel, Senior Advisor to the President and Senior Vice President, Government and IGOs Engagement, Sally Costerton, Senior Advisor to The President & Senior Vice President, Global Stakeholder Engagement, and Pierre Dandjinou, VP Global Stakeholder Engagement for Africa were present at the briefing. The office located on 17th Floor of ICEA building will be officially unveiled at an event at the Intercontinental Hotel later in the evening, with various industry stakeholders present to witness the momentous occasion.
The move by ICANN to select Kenya as its African home is a stamp of approval to Kenya's increasingly important role in the Internet ecosystem. The regional presence will further deepen ICANN's engagement with African Governments as well as the private sector players.
Statistics by Communications Authority estimate that Kenya's mobile phone penetration stands at over 88% while Internet penetration stands at 82.6%, reaching about 35.5 million people making Kenya among the most connected population in the world. Kenya also boasts one of the most active online populations on the continent with users increasing every day. The growing reach of the Internet coupled with the rapid spread of mobile phones and the wide diffusion of social media have immensely contributed to Kenya's socio-economic development growth.
source:
https://www.icann.org/resources/press-material/release-2016-05-24-en
