Tony Blair's visit rekindles his key influence in Ruto, Uhuru governments

President Uhuru Kenyatta with former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, when he paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi. [FILE/Standard] Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was in Nairobi on Wednesday. His visit comes at a time when President William Ruto's popularity has continued to dwindle and the country is debating the controversial Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025, has elicited reactions on his particular mission in the country. The former premier organisation, Blair's Tony Blair Institute (TBI) which 'helps government and leaders get things done' advises on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three according to its website. Established in 2016, TBI also assists governments in leveraging digital tools to improve public service delivery and policy outcomes. "This includes advising on digital identification systems and adopting artificial intelligence in governance. Visiting at a time when there is a raging debate over a proposed law that digital experts believe 'will usher in one of the most invasive State surveillance regimes in the country's history, Blair's visit has been interpreted by political experts as Ruto's strategy to tap knowledge on how to manoeuvre the headwinds and sail through the bill. Digital rights experts have pointed out a chilling plan for mass data collection, real-time monitoring of citizens and erosion of human rights by the State under the guise of regulating internet billing by internet service providers. The experts also argue that the bill could create a cybersecurity nightmare whereby internet service providers and government agencies, holding such vast amounts of sensitive personal data, could become prime targets for hackers, rogue insiders and authoritarian misuse. While President Ruto did not give details about Blair's visit, he intimated that his administration would cooperate with TBI IN the fields of agriculture and ICT. "We appreciate our cooperation with The Tony Blair Institute in the fields of agriculture and ICT. Our objective is to enhance food security and increase efficiency in government by leveraging technology," Dr Ruto wrote in his X account on Monday night. Blair's organization has had many dealings in Kenya ranging from ICT partnerships, to influencing key policy strategies, especially during Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime. In March this year, the Tony Blair Institute of Global Change partnered with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy to pilot paperless correspondence within ministries, departments and Agencies (MDAs) in a bid to eliminate bureaucracies that slow down the delivery of services. "We're proud to work with governments around the world to deliver radical change for their citizens - enabled by technology. In hashtag#Kenya, TBI experts are supporting the government in building more digitally driven public services, focusing on e-government and e-commerce.," TBI reported. The organization added, "As a pilot program, the Institute has partnered with the Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy to go paperless - enhancing efficiencies, streamlining services, promoting transparency across government and bridging the digital divide." On November 4 2022 two months after Ruto was sworn in office, Blair was in Kenya and the two leaders discussed the government's intention to leverage information communication technologies to create employment opportunities. After welcoming Blair at State House, Ruto said his administration would collaborate with the private sector to create digital businesses and promote innovation and entrepreneurship. "ICT is a big part of how we intend to deliver our development agenda. We are in talks with telecommunication companies to lay a 100,000-kilometer fibre optic that will reach every corner of Kenya," he said. In February 2023, JP Morgan, a giant global bank JP Morgan Chase and Co, where Blair played a prominent role since he joined the investment bank in 2008, set up an office in Kenya. Blair joined the investment bank as a part-time senior adviser reportedly earning Sh125 million per month to offer "strategic advice and insight on global political issues and emerging trends. Under Uhuru's regime, Blair was contracted to oversee the Jubilee administration's flagship projects in 2015 in a deal signed between Blair's African Governance Initiative (AGI) and the President's Delivery Unit (PDU). The deal ensured that the AGI would second technocrats to PDU to fast-track the implementation of the key projects that included Konza Techno City, Lamu Port South Sudan and Ethiopia Transport corridor (Lapsset) and media monitoring, especially the coverage of Cabinet secretaries. Blair served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 2, 1997, to June 27, 2007, and was the leader of the Labour Party and is known for modernizing the party under the banner of "New Labour." In Agriculture Blair's organization has been working to support the Kenyan government in the development of an agricultural data platform. "This platform, called the Agricultural Sector Data Gateway (ASDG), will bring different information streams together within a single hub and serve as a one-stop shop delivering high-quality data to inform government work and help farmers increase yields" TBI website reads in part. Digital strategist, John Wahome believes Blair's visit to Kenya could be Ruto's strategy to redeem his image across the social media platforms as well as help the country boost its image in foreign countries. "Blair has helped other African Presidents and world leaders to boost their country's image and there could be speculation that he is here to help President Ruto," Wahome said. Blair's visit also coincides with the raging battle amongst Ruto's men over a controversial spyware tool that was allegedly meant to hold surveillance against journalists and Opposition members critical of the government. A Kenyan-born Canadian, Mary Wacuka Maina, through her company Jipe Inc., filed a lawsuit last year against Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, the Attorney General, businessman Jayesh Saini, and President William Ruto's speechwriter, Eric Kipkoech Ngeno. She is seeking over Sh281 million in compensation. All the defendants have denied any involvement or intention to purchase such a tool and have requested that the case be dismissed.

Tony Blair's visit rekindles his key influence in Ruto, Uhuru governments

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