Technology giant Google has announced Sh28 million (R2.5-million) in funding for Nairobi’s tech innovation centre, iHub, and the Kenya Education Network (KENET).

iHub plans to use the funding from the search giant to expand its infrastructure, while KENET says it will continue to “connect educational institutions with a private, affordable high-speed Internet” network.

“We have been partners with Google for about the last two years,” says Erik Hersman, co-founder of the iHub.

“This is just an extension of that, filling niches that the community needs. One of Google’s big drives is to increase the uptake of Internet in Kenya.”

iHub has received Sh12 million of Google’s funding, which Hersman says will be used to expand its infrastructure.

The iHub community also plans to set up a UX testing lab and an “ExchangeBoard Project”, which will display the latest newsfeeds within the tech community. An experimental supercomputer environment to host data-intensive applications is also on the agenda.

Meanwhile, KENET MD Meoli Kashorda said: “We are very happy with the partnership we have with Google to support innovation and technology in Kenya.

“This contribution will help KENET improve the Internet connectivity in six educational institutions in Kenya, leading to increased affordable broadband Internet access by students, faculty and researchers.”

Michelle Togo