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President Obama’s attendance at the sixth Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi will carry great personal significance for the American leader. But for Kenya, this weekend marks a vital re-assertion that the country, dogged in recent years by large-scale terrorist attacks, International Criminal Court indictments against its leaders and the resultant negative international headlines, is safe and open for business.
The bullishness of business
The choice of Nairobi for this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit is a boon for Kenya, and reflects the world-leading business and technological development emerging from the country. Recent innovations in mobile payments (M-Pesa), clean energy (Sanergy) and portable internet (BRCK) have been incubated in Kenya before being used globally. The summit also demonstrates the gap between the dominant view of Kenya in the mainstream international media, which has focused on security concerns, and the perspective of international business. Despite negative international publicity, many global corporations remain bullish about Kenya’s economic prospects – the high profile US and Kenyan companies on the agenda of the summit demonstrate this. Even with other concerns, GDP growth that consistently tops five per cent annually and pro-business government policies are attracting investors.
Security: A mutating threat?
Last weekend’s reopening of the Westgate shopping centre, scene of the largest al Shabaab attack in Kenya’s capital, was tied to Obama’s visit, and was intended to highlight that Kenya is secure for both consumers and international business-people. But the reality is that the country’s security situation remains deeply uncertain. After the deaths of 67 people in the Westgate attack in September 2013, improvements have been made in training of the Kenyan Defence Forces, and in intelligence-sharing between Kenya, its immediate East African neighbours and Western partners. But there are continued concerns over the shortcomings of command and control in Kenya’s security sector, and corruption within the Kenyan police. The US released a travel advisory in anticipation of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, warning Americans that a flagship meeting to be attended by their own president is itself a potential target for a terrorist attack.
Adjoa Anyimadu is available for comment.
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