Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Kenya is East Africa’s digital bellwether. The country’s tech transformation has earned it the title “Silicon Savannah” and recognition from U.S. officials as Africa’s digital hub—making it a prized partner in the intensifying tech competition between the United States and China.
So far, Chinese firms have built much of Kenya’s digital infrastructure, from telecom networks to smart city systems. But U.S. companies lead in cloud, AI, and software. As Nairobi rolls out a national cloud policy and Kenyan start-ups seek best-in-class tools, the United States has a key window to deepen its tech partnership with this strategically vital African partner.
Join the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) on Wednesday, August 6, at 9:30 a.m. ET for a virtual event exploring Kenya’s evolving digital landscape, the stakes of the U.S.-China tech rivalry on the continent, and opportunities for Washington to offer a more compelling technology partnership.
This virtual event coincides with the release of a new CNAS report, Countering the Digital Silk Road: Kenya, which is part of a CNAS research project assessing the economic and security implications of China’s Digital Silk Road and U.S. efforts to offer a more compelling alternative. This report is the third of four in-depth case studies on strategically vital “swing” nations—Indonesia, Brazil, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia.
Live viewers will have the opportunity to ask questions during the event.
For more information visit: cnas.org/events/virtual-event-countering-chinas-digital-silk-road-kenya
Follow CNAS on:
• Twitter: twitter.com/cnasdc
• Facebook: facebook.com/cnasdc
• Instagram: instagram.com/cnasdc
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/center-for-a-new-american-security
Kenya is East Africa’s digital bellwether. The country’s tech transformation has earned it the title “Silicon Savannah” and recognition from U.S. officials as Africa’s digital hub—making it a prized partner in the intensifying tech competition between the United States and China.
So far, Chinese firms have built much of Kenya’s digital infrastructure, from telecom networks to smart city systems. But U.S. companies lead in cloud, AI, and software. As Nairobi rolls out a national cloud policy and Kenyan start-ups seek best-in-class tools, the United States has a key window to deepen its tech partnership with this strategically vital African partner.
Join the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) on Wednesday, August 6, at 9:30 a.m. ET for a virtual event exploring Kenya’s evolving digital landscape, the stakes of the U.S.-China tech rivalry on the continent, and opportunities for Washington to offer a more compelling technology partnership.
This virtual event coincides with the release of a new CNAS report, Countering the Digital Silk Road: Kenya, which is part of a CNAS research project assessing the economic and security implications of China’s Digital Silk Road and U.S. efforts to offer a more compelling alternative. This report is the third of four in-depth case studies on strategically vital “swing” nations—Indonesia, Brazil, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia.
Live viewers will have the opportunity to ask questions during the event.
For more information visit: cnas.org/events/virtual-event-countering-chinas-digital-silk-road-kenya
Follow CNAS on:
• Twitter: twitter.com/cnasdc
• Facebook: facebook.com/cnasdc
• Instagram: instagram.com/cnasdc
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/center-for-a-new-american-security
