President William Ruto told an audience at the Africa Forward Summit that Kenya has started making phones and computers locally. His words came during a busy day of talks about technology and the future of work in Africa. Many listeners nodded along, yet the claim has left others checking facts and wondering exactly how far local production has gone.
The president spoke with clear confidence. He linked the progress to education changes under the new curriculum and efforts to prepare young people for tech jobs. In his view, the country has moved past just importing gadgets.
Kenya now puts together digital devices on home soil, he explained, and this marks an important step toward self-reliance in technology. He painted a picture of a nation ready to join the global digital race with artificial intelligence playing a big role.
Factories do exist. In Machakos, the East Africa Device Assembly plant has operated for a few years. Another big setup by M-KOPA in Nairobi turns out thousands of smartphones each day.
Workers there take imported parts and build them into finished phones mostly for local sale and some export to neighbours like Uganda. These operations have created jobs and cut down on complete imports for certain models. Government tax breaks helped encourage companies to set up shop here instead of shipping everything ready-made.
Still, many Kenyans point out a difference between putting pieces together and true manufacturing from scratch. Critics say the president stretched the truth when he talked about full production.
The plants mainly assemble components brought in from abroad. Screens, chips, batteries, and casings come from other countries. Local input stays limited to final steps and packaging. No major factory yet melts raw materials or builds core electronics entirely inside Kenya.
They wanted clearer talk about the challenges still ahead, such as power supply problems, expensive imported parts, and the need for more local suppliers.
Ordinary citizens in towns and markets continue to buy phones made mostly elsewhere. Many ask why locally assembled devices sometimes cost similar prices or face quality doubts compared to big international brands.
The conversation touches bigger dreams for Kenya. Leaders have talked for years about moving the economy beyond farming and basic services.
During the summit, President Ruto stood beside international guests and stressed partnerships. He believes foreign companies will bring know-how while Kenya offers its market and workforce.
Recent laws aimed at special economic zones and technology hubs try to make the country more attractive for such investors. Whether computers will follow the same path as phones remains an open question since assembly lines for laptops appear even less developed.
Education leaders also watch closely. The competency-based curriculum that Ruto praised seeks to teach practical skills from early years. Supporters say it prepares students better for factory floors and innovation labs. As the debate continues, business people in the tech space urge patience mixed with accountability.
