Kenya must take lead in shaping the future of AI
Kenya is leading efforts to test AI models for bias and improve their accuracy in linguistic diversity, particularly for low-resource languages like Swahili and indigenous dialects.
The recently concluded Paris AI Action Summit, held on February 10-11, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the global discourse on artificial intelligence (AI). As Kenya continues to position itself as a leader in technology and innovation, we are proud to have played a significant role in shaping the outcomes of this historic summit.
President William Ruto’s vision on anchoring the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) on the digital economy provides a firm foundation for this strategic leadership.
Kenya’s participation and endorsement of key agreements, including the Paris Charter on Public Interest AI, and Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable AI for People and the Planet, underscore our commitment to ensuring that AI development is equitable, inclusive and aligned with the public interest.
At the heart of the summit was the launch of the Current AI Partnership, a global initiative aimed at reshaping the AI landscape to serve the public good. With an initial investment of $400 million and an ambition to raise a total of $2.5 billion over five years, this partnership seeks to expand access to high-quality datasets, promote open-source tools, and establish frameworks for transparency and accountability in AI systems.
Kenya, alongside other forward-thinking nations such as Chile, Finland, Germany and Nigeria, has pledged to support this initiative, recognising the transformative potential of AI in addressing critical challenges in healthcare, education and economic development.
AI systems
The Paris Charter on Public Interest AI, which Kenya endorsed, reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that principles of openness, accountability and participation guide AI development. The charter emphasises the need for AI systems to be locally relevant, culturally sensitive and environmentally sustainable. For Kenya, this means leveraging AI to address our unique challenges, such as improving access to healthcare in rural areas, enhancing agricultural productivity and bridging the digital divide.
The Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable AI for People and the Planet further highlighted Kenya’s leadership in promoting inclusive and sustainable AI. This statement, endorsed by over 100 countries, outlines a roadmap for harnessing AI to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and our climate ambition while ensuring that the benefits of AI are accessible to all.
Key priorities identified in the statement include; promoting AI accessibility to reduce digital divides, particularly in developing countries; ensuring AI is open, transparent and ethical, with a focus on human rights and international frameworks; encouraging AI deployment that positively shapes the future of work and delivers sustainable growth; and making AI sustainable for people and the planet, including addressing the environmental impact of AI technologies.
Kenya’s endorsement of this statement reflects our belief that AI must be a force for good, driving economic growth and social progress while minimising harm to the environment and vulnerable communities.
Kenya’s leadership extends beyond policy commitments. During the summit, we engaged in strategic dialogues with global technology leaders, including a pivotal conversation with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, focused on strengthening support for local innovation ecosystems. OpenAI has committed to collaborating with Kenyan tech hubs and startups to enhance access to cutting-edge AI tools, foster talent development, and scale solutions tailored to Africa’s unique challenges. This partnership aligns with Kenya’s ambition to become a continental AI hub, driving home-grown innovation that resonates globally.
Test AI models
Additionally, Kenya is proud to be the sole African country in the International Network of AI Safety Institutes, a role that underscores our technical expertise and commitment to ethical AI. Within this network, Kenya is leading efforts to test AI models for bias and improve their accuracy in linguistic diversity, particularly for low-resource languages like Swahili and indigenous dialects. This work ensures AI systems are inclusive and representative of Africa’s rich cultural tapestry.
Kenya’s AI strategy is further amplified through bilateral collaborations with international partners. Under President Ruto’s agenda on digital inclusion, Kenya has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to deploy AI-driven solutions within the framework of the government’s 1,450 hubs to expand entrepreneurship while solving challenges, especially in marginalised communities to increase access to education, healthcare and financial services.
As a nation, Kenya has long recognised the transformative potential of technology. From the success of mobile money through M-Pesa to our thriving tech ecosystem, we have demonstrated that innovation can drive inclusive growth. The Paris AI Action Summit provided an opportunity to extend this vision to the realm of AI.
Three key principles guided Kenya’s participation in the summit. The first is local relevance. AI solutions must be tailored to address the specific needs of Kenyan communities, from improving healthcare delivery to enhancing agricultural productivity.
The second is inclusivity. AI development must be inclusive, ensuring that all Kenyans, regardless of their socioeconomic status, can benefit from technological advancements.
The third is sustainability. AI must be developed and deployed to minimise its environmental impact and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
The Paris AI Action Summit was not just a moment of reflection but a call to action. Kenya is committed to building on the momentum generated at the summit by; investing in AI foundational infrastructure, including high-quality datasets, green energy, talent, Sovereign AI capabilities and open-source tools, to support innovation and research;
strengthening partnerships with governments, industry leaders, and civil society ensures that AI development aligns with the public interest; and promoting capacity-building initiatives to equip Kenyan innovators and researchers with the skills needed to harness the power of AI.
As we look to the future, we draw inspiration from the words of Martin Tisné, Founder of Current AI, who reminded us that “we have a critical window to shape the future of artificial intelligence.” Kenya is well-positioned to seize this opportunity, collaborating with our global partners to ensure that AI serves the public good and contributes to a more equitable and sustainable world.
The Paris AI Action Summit showcased the strength of international cooperation in tackling the challenges and seizing the opportunities presented by AI. Kenya takes pride in having participated in this historic event and is dedicated to paving the way in shaping a future in AI that benefits everyone.
Mr Kabogo is the Cabinet Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy, and Amb Philip Thigo is the Special Envoy on Technology.