President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday host American giant tech company, Microsoft, at Statehouse where they reached an agreement to set up Africa's premier hub of engineering in Nairobi.
The meeting attended by top executives of Microsoft led by Vice President for Gaming Phil Spencer saw the US firm unveil a plan for the establishment of the Africa Development Centre in Kenya's capital.
The centre will serve the Eastern Africa region, Microsoft officials said in the meeting with President Uhuru.
Spencer told the President that the corporation will soon absorb 100 local engineers, vacancies that were announced in March. President Kenyatta welcomed the new initiative and assured Microsoft of his full support as they set up their Nairobi hub that will be the seventh globally.
"“You can count on my 100 per cent support. I want this to be a transparent partnership that benefits Microsoft and Kenyans greatly. We want you to make Kenya your African home," President Kenyatta said.
According to Microsoft, the Nairobi centre will heavily ride on the diversity of the regional landscape to build world class talent capable of creating innovative solutions for global impact.
They will also establish a collaborative engineering springboard for new technology investments in Kenya. Besides Nairobi, Microsoft has earmarked Nigeria as the other beneficiary of a similar facility on the continent to serve West Africa.