Keep Up With Global Black News

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox.

BY D.L. Chandler, 3:31pm February 11, 2015,

Nairobi Named Africa’s Most Intelligent City for 2nd Year in Row

by D.L. Chandler, 3:31pm February 11, 2015,
Nairobi

Nairobi

Nairobi (pictured), the capital city of Kenya, has been named the most-intelligent city in Africa for the second year in a row. According to the United States-based Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) think tank, Nairobi has made strides to compete on the global stage by way of using broadband and other emerging technologies to boost its economic status.

SEE ALSO: Ugandan Filmmakers Take Art to People 

Keep Up With Face2Face Africa On Facebook!

The ICF unveiled its listing in January, but Nairobi will not be among the seven world finalists for the 2015 Intelligent Community of the Year award program held by the group.

Of the 21 hubs nominated for the award, Kenya’s largest city is the only African city listed.

More from CNN Marketplace Africa:

According to the Intelligent Community Forum, “intelligent communities” are those that have taken “conscious steps” to create an economy that can prosper in the “broadband economy.” The group has recently released its latest rankings, recognizing the achievements of communities that have built inclusive, prosperous economies on a basis of information and communication technologies.

Intelligent Community Forum co-founder Robert Bell says: “We see a strong foundation being put into place [in Nairobi]: sensible, pro-growth government policy, a more diversified economy, and an innovation ecosystem of startups, international companies, and universities.

“Nairobi certainly has the opportunity to build an exciting future for its citizens, businesses, and institutions.”

The ICF gave high praise to Nairobi in its community profile as well:

This municipal county of 4 million has been identified by A.T. Kearny as one of two sub-Saharan cities likely to achieve developed status within 20 years.  If the prediction proves true, it will mark a sharp positive turn at the end of a very long road.

After its independence in 1964, Kenya gradually declined into a kleptocracy committed to embezzling public funds for personal gain. Nairobi stood out as one of most-corrupt cities in East Africa.

In 2007, it represented 60 percent of Kenyan GDP and grew its economy 6 percent, while nearly two-thirds of its population lived in slums.  A national movement for multi-party democracy began in the late-1980s and accelerated through two tumultuous decades to culminate in approval of a new constitution in 2012.  By creating the foundation of civil society, it became one of several trends building a better future for Nairobi.

The finalists for the 2015 Intelligent Community Of The Year Award are: Arlington County (U.S.), Columbus, (U.S.), Ipswich (Australia), Mitchell (U.S.), New Taipei City (Taiwan), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and Surrey (Canada).

RELATED: Kenya Now Ranked 4th Largest Economy in Africa

Last Edited by:iboateng Updated: September 15, 2018

Conversations

Must Read

Connect with us

Join our Mailing List to Receive Updates

Face2face Africa | Afrobeatz+ | BlackStars

Keep Up With Global Black News and Events

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox, plus our curated weekly brief with top stories across our platforms.

No, Thank You