PRESIDENT RUTO'S TECH ENVOY HONOURED WITH MOZILLA RISE25 AWARD IN DUBLIN.

BY NJOKI KARANJA. 

Kenyan tech envoy Ambassador Thigo has been recognized with the prestigious MozillaRise25 Award in the Advocacy category. The award, presented during a special red carpet ceremony on August 13 at Dublin’s Convention Centre, celebrates leaders shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a focus on philanthropy, collective power, and open-source principles. 

In the main, Thigo’s award highlights Kenya’s growing influence in the technology space and his commitment as a champion of it's development. He was selected for his work in promoting ethical, inclusive, and transparent AI development and safeguarding. Thigo is one of three Kenyans who earned top honors in various categories this year. 

Collage of winners Amb. Philip Thigo on the right, Kathlene Siminyu top left and Angela Lugati on the bottom left.

“Thank you, Mozilla for this incredible honor, shining a light on the often thankless work of public sector champions who tirelessly strive to make policies more responsive, with real implications for people’s lives,” Amb. Thigo shared on his LinkedIn.

The other two awardees were Angela Lugati and Kathlene Siminyu. Angela Oduor Lungati is a technologist, community builder and an open source software advocate. She is passionate about building and using appropriate technology tools to create impact in the lives of marginalised groups. 

Angela Lugati, left and Kathlene Siminyu, right, posing for pictures, after receiving their awards in Dublin.

As shown in the pictures herein, an elated Lugati graced the Dublin Convention Centre to receive the award which goes a long way in bolstering her voice and commitment in the space of tech. "Receiving the award is an honor and I'm appreciative of the recognition of the important role technology and AI can play in impacting the lives of disenfranchised communities of we ensure that it is accessible to everyone," said Angela.

Kathlene Simiyu on the other hand was recognized under the Builders Category which includes engineers and data scientists dedicated to developing AI’s open-source language infrastructure and ensuring AI's security. Simiyu rocked the stage in an dazzling red casual chic attire, underscoring women's prominence in the development of AI in Kenya and beyond. 

To cap off his gratitude message, Ambassador Philip Thigo promised to persist in the pursuit of a more inclusive, safe and secure technology ecosystem and called on other leaders not to shun away from their mandates. He alluded to the thankless nature of most civil servant jobs, but encouraged his fellow compatriots to do it for the betterment of their nation and it's future generations. 

“Looking forward, I will continue to be that voice in the room advocating for a new future centered on Access and Excellence. Ensuring equitable access to compute, data, and talent while preventing a race to the bottom. At the same time, reclaiming the narrative, that despite its risks, AI can be a force for good and help tackle some of our greatest challenges such as food security, climate action, and better health outcomes,” the message read in part. 

Dubbed the “Silicon Savannah,” Kenya is home to innovative startups and tech companies. Its commitment to sustainable development, particularly in renewable energy, reinforces its status as a responsible global citizen and a leader in leveraging technology to address contemporary challenges like climate change, something that has seen Kenya draw so many investors from abroad. 

Among Kenya's most notable tech innovations, is M-Pesa and M-Kopa. In the famous words of tech billionaire Bill Gates, “We can harness AI to solve our biggest global problems. We are likely to live in decades to come in a world of superabundance. But it will take vigilance to make sure it's the world we want for ourselves and generations to come.”