Kenya Lands ICT Deal with Huawei Despite US Warning
Kenya has inked a deal with Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. is a Chinese multinational technology company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong to expand ICT services in the banking sector and enhance financial inclusion.
Under the agreement, The Kenya Bankers Association, (KBA) and Huawei Kenya will collaborate in building capacity to promote knowledge on fintech innovation, digital transformation, and other ICT-related programmes within the Kenyan banking industry.
The partnership also aims to promote financial inclusion activities in line with the KBA Strategic Plan for the period 2020 to 2023.
“This partnership will further focus on research and knowledge-sharing activities, which will supplement the research initiatives that continue to be spearheaded by the Association’s Centre for Research Financial on Markets and Policy. In this regard, the collaboration will certainly augment KBA’s and member banks’ knowledge base in engagements with diverse stakeholders from a fact-based perspective,’’ KBA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Habil Olaka said.
He added that the cooperation would go a long way in promoting the delivery of efficient banking services in Kenya through knowledge sharing programmes that will be organized by the two institutions.
On the other hand, Huawei Kenya Chief Executive Officer Will Meng expects the partnership to further boost conviniency in delivery of financial services following the disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
Huawei Kenya has also kicked off the seventh cohort of students participating in the global Seeds for the Future program, this year virtually. Started globally in 2008, the flagship program has benefitted about 200 students in Kenya since 2014. It aims to develop skilled, local ICT talent and bridge communication gaps between countries and cultures.
The government of the United States has been pushing Kenya to make sure Safaricom cuts its contract with China’s Huawei in the roll out of the country’s fifth generation (5G) network.
The US says that global security and personal data will be at risk if the Chinese company dominates development of the world’s fifth-generation internet. The continued Involvement of Huawei in Kenya ICT programmes could emerge in talks on a free trade agreement between the US and Kenya, analysts said.
