Senate Resolution No. 1464
BY: Senator PARKER
HONORING Dr. Mark Matunga upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Strategic Innovation
Award in Business Development & Technology by Young,
Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc.
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals whose visionary leadership, technological
innovation, and entrepreneurial excellence are shaping the future of
industry, education, and economic development across global communities;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, this Legislative Body is proud
to honor Dr. Mark Matunga, technology executive, artificial intelligence
innovator, and global development leader, upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Strategic Innovation Award in Business
Development & Technology by Young, Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial
Awards, Inc., on Wednesday, February 25, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 2006 by Carl Gray, Young, Gifted, & Black
Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
recognizing distinguished individuals of color across the Americas, the
Caribbean, and Africa, celebrating "Unsung Heroes and Heroines" whose
leadership, resilience, and service have made a lasting impact across
business, technology, innovation, and community development; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mark Matunga is the President and Co-founder of SIMBA
AI, a leading artificial intelligence company incorporated in New York
and Nairobi, recognized for advancing Large Language Model (LLM)
technologies and expanding access to cutting-edge AI solutions across
global markets; and
WHEREAS, Through his leadership at SIMBA AI, Dr. Mark Matunga has
played a pivotal role in driving innovation in artificial intelligence
while advocating for the responsible and ethical use of emerging
technologies to address complex societal challenges and create inclusive
economic opportunity; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his entrepreneurial leadership, Dr. Mark
Matunga currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Africa Center for Advanced Technology (ACAT) and Executive Chairman of
the Cyber Security Institute (CSI), advancing digital transformation,
cybersecurity resilience, and technology-driven development across
Africa and beyond; and
WHEREAS, A respected technology evangelist and international
consultant, he is also a Director and Co-founder of ACAT, founder of
Mark Matunga International (MMI), and an active participant in national
and regional ICT strategy and policy-making initiatives that place
technology at the center of education, governance, and sustainable
development; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mark Matunga's distinguished corporate career includes
five years at Intel Corporation as Director of Corporate Affairs for the
East Africa region and ten years at Microsoft Corporation, where he held
senior leadership roles across East and Southern Africa, contributing to
regional growth, innovation, and digital capacity building; and
WHEREAS, Earlier in his career, following his return to the United
States, Dr. Mark Matunga served as a technology instructor and support
specialist at The School for International Training in Brattleboro,
Vermont, reflecting his lifelong commitment to education and skills
development; and
WHEREAS, His exemplary contributions to education and information
and communications technology have earned him numerous honors, including
the 2012 Regional Industry Sales Group Award from Microsoft Corporation
(Europe, Middle East & Africa) and a Global Performance Award from Intel
Corporation in 2018, among other international recognitions; and
WHEREAS, A scholar and lifelong learner, Dr. Mark Matunga is a
graduate of Carroll University in Wisconsin, holds a master's degree
from the School for International Training in Vermont, and earned a
Doctorate in Management and Leadership from United Graduate College,
reflecting the academic foundation underpinning his global leadership;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mark Matunga has demonstrated sustained commitment to
public service and community development through his service on numerous
boards and task forces, including the Obama Young African Leaders
Initiative (YALI) East Africa, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum
Development, the Kenya National Examination Council, and as Chair of the
Nairobi City County Taskforce on Education Transformation; and
WHEREAS, He currently serves as Chairman of the Cyber Security and
Emerging Technologies Taskforce at the Ministry of Internal Security and
National Administration, Office of the President of the Republic of
Kenya, and as Chair of the Advisory Board of Lish AI Labs, among other
influential global roles advancing digital resilience and innovation;
and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his lasting impact on education and
community development, a public secondary institution has been named
Mark Matunga High School, underscoring the transformative reach of his
leadership and service; and
WHEREAS, Through visionary entrepreneurship, technological
leadership, and a steadfast commitment to inclusive innovation, Dr. Mark
Matunga continues to expand opportunity, empower communities, and shape
the future of the global technology landscape; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Mark Matunga upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the Strategic Innovation Award in Business Development & Technology,
and to commend his extraordinary contributions to artificial
intelligence, digital transformation, education, and global
technological advancement; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dr. Mark Matunga as an expression of the highest respect
and appreciation of this Legislative Body.
