CALIFORNIA, U.S. – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has praised Kenyan professionals making their mark in the global technology industry after meeting 35 of them during a visit to Silicon Valley, California.
Gachagua, who is on a tour of the United States, described the day as “splendid,” saying the experience reinforced his belief that Kenya must remain competitive in the fast-moving world of innovation.
“The world is now a global tech hub, and Kenya must never be left behind — not an inch,” he said in a statement.
His itinerary included visits to Google headquarters, a tour of Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads — and a ride in an artificial intelligence-driven Jaguar limousine.
At Meta, Gachagua heard about the company’s growth from its founding in a college dorm room by Mark Zuckerberg at the age of 19, to becoming a USD 1.92 trillion tech powerhouse in 2025.
He said meeting the 35 Kenyans in senior positions across different projects was the most rewarding part of the visit.
“Listening to them and their great ideas on ICT development was inspiring. Our Gen Zs are brilliant and tech-savvy, and they will be invaluable as we reboot the Ministry of ICT in the 6th Administration come 2027,” Gachagua said.
The world is now a global tech hub, and Kenya must never have been left behind in the great idea, not an inch behind.I have spent a splendid day in the Silicon Valley, firsthand the most creative tech innovations and interacting with the best tech minds in the world. I spent
Silicon Valley: The World’s Tech Epicentre
Located in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley has been the global hub for technology innovation since the mid-20th century.
It earned its name from the silicon used in semiconductor chips, which fuelled the early computing revolution.
Home to giants such as Apple, Google, and Meta, the region attracts top talent and venture capital from around the world.
It has birthed countless start-ups and transformed industries ranging from communications to artificial intelligence.
Kenya’s Global Tech Footprint
Kenya has steadily built a reputation as a regional ICT leader, with innovations like mobile money platform M-Pesa drawing global attention.
The growing presence of Kenyans in Silicon Valley reflects the country’s expanding talent pool and its potential to tap diaspora expertise for domestic digital growth.
