Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon, has inaugurated a new African Development Centre in Kenya.
This is the second AWS hub in Africa, with the first one situated in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Development Centre will serve as a base for AWS Research & Development teams, creating numerous highly skilled jobs in software development, cloud support, and software engineering.
The new Amazon Web Services African Development Centre is located at Riverside Drive in Nairobi.
Uwem Ukpong, Vice President of Global Services at AWS, stated that this centre would allow the local market to access an incredible pool of technical talent.
He emphasized that with a steady influx of home-grown talent from Kenya, AWS can enhance its commitment to Kenya’s economic development, creating a win-win situation for all parties involved.
”With a steady injection of home-grown talent on Kenya’s side, we can continue to enhance our commitment to Kenya’s economic development. This is a win-win for all involved,” he said.
At Riverside, Nairobi County, officially opened the Amazon Web Services Development Centre, the second on the continent after South Africa; proof that Kenya — the rising digital powerhouse — is open for business and innovation on a global scale. pic.twitter.com/6D0U3Tut5Q
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) October 4, 2023
Kenya’s President William Ruto, who presided over the launch, noted that the Kenyan technology sector continues to be a source of growth and job creation amid global uncertainties.
He expressed that AWS’s decision to open a new development centre in Kenya demonstrates their trust in Kenya’s people and economy.
“The decision to open a new development centre in Kenya is evidence of the trust that AWS has in our people and our economy. I look forward to our continued collaboration with AWS as it deepens their commitment to our country.”
Kenya already has Amazon CloudFront, the third in Africa in addition to two in South African cities Johannesburg and Cape Town.