Dr Peter Staecker, the president of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE), is to lead a high powered delegation to Nairobi next week to meet government and private sector stakeholders and discuss the role of technology in the region.
Staecker is expected to be accompanied by general counsel Eileen Lach, director of educational activities Douglas Gorham, director of social innovation programs Tara Wisniewski and Matthew S. Loeb, the executive director of the IEEE Foundation.
The delegation will meet strategic players in the private and public sectors, including the Engineers Board of Kenya, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, the Vision 2030 Secretariat, the Ministry of Information and Communication and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KBS).
According to the chairman of the IEEE Kenya Chapter, Vincent Kaabunga, the visit is in line with the body’s policy in bracing itself for greater roles in the growth of engineering, computing and technology in Africa.
“The IEEE is reviewing how it is involved in Africa. This visit is part of the body’s action towards increasing our direct involvement. It will enable the global leadership better understand how the IEEE can assist in expanding engineering capacity on the continent,” he said.
According to Kaabunga the visit, which comes days after Uhuru Kenyatta’s swearing in, indicates the positivity for a digital movement in Kenya as shown by the new president.
The organisation also says Staecker will make strategic announcements while in the country. The president and his entourage will land on Saturday according to his New York-based office, with the Kenyan chapter of the IEEE also confirming the visit.
