Kenya has unveiled its Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030, a comprehensive national plan to transform the country into Africa’s leading hub for AI research, innovation, and inclusive economic development. Released by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy in March 2025, the strategy outlines an ambitious path to harness artificial intelligence as a driver of growth, governance, and social well-being—while embedding ethical principles, data sovereignty, and human rights into every stage of its deployment.
The strategy lays out a clear vision: to position Kenya at the forefront of AI development on the continent by creating a thriving ecosystem for AI model innovation, talent cultivation, research and development, and cross-sector adoption. With technology playing an increasingly central role in daily life, the government aims to ensure that all Kenyans—regardless of geography, income, or education—benefit from AI’s potential.
The plan is built around three foundational pillars: AI digital infrastructure, a sustainable national data ecosystem, and a vibrant AI research and innovation environment. Supporting these are four strategic enablers: strong governance frameworks, nationwide talent development, targeted public and private investments, and a clear emphasis on ethics, equity, and inclusion.
Infrastructure development features prominently. The government intends to expand high-speed internet access across the country, invest in AI-ready data centers, and promote access to affordable cloud computing resources. These investments are aimed at reducing Kenya’s reliance on external infrastructure and ensuring data remains within national borders.
On the governance front, the strategy proposes an adaptive regulatory framework that balances innovation with risk mitigation. It outlines plans to develop national standards and ethical guidelines for AI use, with input from stakeholders including civil society, academia, and international partners. Kenya’s AI policy will emphasize transparency, accountability, and the prevention of algorithmic harms.
To ensure local ownership and relevance, the strategy emphasizes education and workforce readiness. AI literacy will be integrated into school curricula, with higher education institutions expanding AI and data science programs. Specialized training initiatives, bootcamps, and public-private partnerships will also support upskilling across industries.
Kenya’s strategy identifies several high-priority sectors for AI deployment, including agriculture, healthcare, education, finance, and public administration. AI is expected to improve crop yields, detect medical conditions more accurately, enhance classroom instruction, expand access to credit, and streamline public service delivery.
However, the strategy also addresses critical risks. Concerns over job displacement, data misuse, bias, and unequal access were raised during a nationwide consultation process involving surveys, interviews, town halls, and expert roundtables. The government has committed to designing protections to ensure AI development does not exacerbate inequality or infringe on privacy and civil rights.
Kenya’s leadership in mobile money, digital government services, and internet penetration gives it a strong foundation to implement this strategy. Recent investments in fiber-optic infrastructure and data center capacity, as well as growing interest from global tech firms, underscore the country’s readiness to scale AI applications.
Implementation will follow a phased approach, beginning with foundational investments in infrastructure, policy, and capacity-building. This will be followed by pilot projects, the creation of AI research hubs, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure the strategy remains responsive to technological change and public needs.
The Kenya AI Strategy 2025–2030 positions the country not just as a participant in the global AI economy but as a leader shaping how AI can be harnessed to uplift society. It is a call to action for collaboration across government, industry, academia, and civil society—and a declaration that Kenya intends to chart its own course in the AI age.
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If you’re concerned or have questions about how to navigate Kenya’s, or any country’s, AI regulatory landscape, don’t hesitate to reach out to BABL AI. Their Audit Experts can offer valuable insight and ensure you’re informed and compliant.
