Kenya unveils National AI Strategy 2025-2030, aiming to lead Africa’s AI revolution

Kenya’s Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy has officially launched a call for public participation in shaping the nation’s National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy 2025-2030. The strategy outlines a bold vision to position Kenya as Africa’s leading AI innovation hub, with a focus on sustainable development, economic growth, and social inclusion.

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This comprehensive strategy is built on three foundational pillars:

1. AI Digital Infrastructure: Creating accessible and affordable infrastructure for AI development and deployment.
2. Data Ecosystem: Establishing a robust, sustainable, and secure data environment to power AI initiatives.
3. AI Research and Innovation: Developing cutting-edge, localized AI models and solutions tailored to Kenya’s unique challenges and opportunities.

These pillars are supported by four critical enablers:

• Governance Frameworks: Ensuring ethical, equitable, and inclusive AI policies.
• Talent Development: Building a pipeline of skilled professionals to drive AI adoption.
• Investment Mobilization: Attracting public and private sector funding for AI projects.
• Ethical AI Practices: Upholding fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in AI development and deployment.

Key Highlights of the Strategy

The National AI Strategy 2025-2030 adopts a phased implementation approach beginning with foundational investments in policy, infrastructure, and capacity building.

Strategic Themes and Priorities:

• Modernizing Digital Infrastructure: Expanding AI-ready networks and systems to support innovation.
• Establishing Data Governance Frameworks: Creating policies for secure, ethical, and transparent data usage.
• Enhancing AI Research Capabilities: Supporting localized AI research to address national challenges.
• Talent Pipeline Development: Collaborating with educational institutions and the private sector to cultivate AI expertise.
• Regulatory Agility: Developing adaptive policies to keep pace with rapid AI advancements.
• Accelerating Investments: Encouraging collaboration between public and private entities to fund AI initiatives.
• Fostering Ethical AI Development: Prioritizing fairness, inclusivity, and transparency in all AI applications.

Flagship Projects and Sector Focus

Kenya’s strategy identifies priority sectors for AI application, aiming to address key societal and economic needs. These sectors include:

• Healthcare: Leveraging AI for maternal health chatbots in local dialects and predictive diagnostics.
• Agriculture: AI-powered advisory systems to enhance productivity and food security.
• Education: Personalized learning platforms to improve educational outcomes.
• Public Service Delivery: Optimizing government services through AI-driven solutions.
• Security: Using AI for surveillance and predictive analytics to enhance national safety.
• Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): Supporting MSMEs with AI tools to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Creative Industries: Empowering artists and creators with AI tools for content generation and market expansion.

Kenya’s Leadership in Africa’s AI Revolution

Kenya is emerging as a trailblazer in AI development across Africa. Last year, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Microsoft, Kenya launched the Africa Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence Skills. This center serves as an incubator for public sector AI innovation to enhance service delivery.

Additionally, the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy, in partnership with GIZ, played a pivotal role in crafting the National AI Strategy, solidifying Kenya’s commitment to AI-driven growth.

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Public Participation: A Call to Action

The Ministry of ICT is encouraging stakeholders, industry experts, academia, and the public to contribute their insights and expertise to refine the strategy. By fostering broad participation, the government aims to ensure the strategy reflects diverse perspectives and addresses the needs of all Kenyans.

Leveraging AI for sustainable development

Kenya’s National AI Strategy 2025-2030 represents a groundbreaking step towards leveraging AI for sustainable development, economic empowerment, and inclusive growth. By prioritizing localized solutions and ethical practices, Kenya is not only positioning itself as a leader in AI innovation but also setting the standard for how technology can be harnessed to transform lives across Africa.