( CNN ) For a second year in a row , Kenya 's busy capital city of Nairobi has been named the most intelligent city in Africa -- failing , however , to make it to the world 's top seven finalists . According to the Intelligent Community Forum , `` intelligent communities '' are those that have taken `` conscious steps '' to create an economy that can prosper in the `` broadband economy . '' The group has recently released its latest rankings , recognizing the achievements of communities that have built inclusive , prosperous economies on a basis of information and communication technologies . Nairobi was the only African city to appear on their shortlist of 21 hubs throughout the world for 2015 . Intelligent Community Forum co-founder Robert Bell says : `` We see a strong foundation being put into place [ in Nairobi ] : sensible , pro-growth government policy , a more diversified economy , and an innovation ecosystem of startups , international companies and universities . `` Nairobi certainly has the opportunity to build an exciting future for its citizens , businesses and institutions . '' The Kenyan capital , however , did n't make it to the next round that will see seven communities around the world contesting in June for the 2015 Intelligent Community of the Year award -- in alphabetical order , the 2015 Top7 Intelligent Communities were Arlington County ( U.S. ) , Columbus , ( U.S. ) , Ipswich ( Australia ) , Mitchell ( U.S. ) , New Taipei City ( Taiwan ) , Rio de Janeiro ( Brazil ) and Surrey ( Canada ) . Click through the gallery to find out more about how Nairobi is dealing with the challenges of the broadband economy . More from Marketplace Africa . Read this : Robotics revolutions hits classrooms . Read this Inside Africa 's biggest wind power project .
Nairobi is the only African city to make it to the world 's top21 ` The Kenyan capital of Nairobi, which has been ranked as one of the most liveable cities in Africa for more than a decade, was named by Lonely Planet magazine on its list of top 20 best places The Kenyan capital , however , missed out of the top seven finalists .