US President Barack Obama said Saturday "Africa is on the move", as he praised the spirit of entrepreneurship at a business summit in Kenya during his first visit to the country of his father's birth since his election as president.

"I wanted to be here, because Africa is on the move, Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world," Obama said.

"People are being lifted out of poverty, incomes are up, the middle class is growing and young people like you are harnessing technology to change the way Africa is doing business."