President William Ruto today in the evening hosted former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and a delegation from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) at State House, Nairobi, to strengthen ongoing collaborations in agriculture and digital governance. The meeting underscored Kenya’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance food security and streamline government services.
Central to the discussions was the Agricultural Sector Data Gateway (ASDG), a digital platform developed in partnership with TBI. This platform consolidates diverse agricultural data—ranging from weather patterns to market prices—into a unified system accessible to policymakers, farmers, and stakeholders. By facilitating data-driven decision-making, the ASDG aims to boost productivity, optimize resource allocation, and improve resilience against climate-related challenges.
President Ruto emphasized the transformative potential of information and communication technologies (ICT) in achieving national development goals. He highlighted plans to digitize up to 90% of government services, enhancing efficiency and accessibility. The President also reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding digital infrastructure, including the rollout of a 100,000-kilometer fiber optic network to connect all regions of Kenya.
Tony Blair praised Kenya’s proactive approach to integrating technology into governance and agriculture. He noted that such initiatives position Kenya as a leader in digital transformation on the continent. Blair expressed optimism that the continued partnership between TBI and the Kenyan government would serve as a model for other nations aiming to harness technology for sustainable development.
