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Kenya has officially launched the Kenya Artificial Intelligence Skilling Alliance (KAISA) — a groundbreaking national platform dedicated to advancing the country’s capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) through coordinated talent development, innovation, and policy collaboration.
Spearheaded by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in partnership with Microsoft, KAISA represents a strategic effort to build a digitally empowered and future-ready workforce while positioning Kenya as a leading AI hub on the African continent.
The high-profile launch event brought together key stakeholders, including senior government officials, representatives from global technology firms, academia, civil society, and international development organizations. Their participation underscored the growing recognition of AI as a key catalyst for employment creation, economic productivity, and competitiveness in the modern economy.
Although Kenya is frequently ranked among Africa’s most AI-ready nations, its initiatives have historically been fragmented across multiple sectors and institutions. KAISA seeks to consolidate these scattered efforts into a unified, nationwide framework that promotes collaboration, consistency, and scale.
The alliance will focus on several priority areas:
- Aligning training and skills development with current and emerging needs of industry and government.
- Expanding equitable access to AI learning opportunities for youth, women, and marginalized communities.
- Promoting ethical and responsible AI use to ensure technology serves people and upholds national values.
- Establishing a national AI repository and innovation hub to centralize data, research, and development.
- Formulating robust policy and research frameworks to guide sustainable AI deployment across sectors.
“KAISA marks a defining moment in Kenya’s journey to build a future-ready workforce,” said Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Deputy CEO at KEPSA. “Africa’s youthful population remains our greatest advantage. Through coordinated action, we will connect innovation with opportunity and scale models that empower communities to thrive in the digital economy.”
As a founding partner, Microsoft will play a central role in driving KAISA’s vision by supporting curriculum design, innovation incubation, and AI research acceleration. This partnership builds upon earlier collaborations that have already equipped thousands of young Kenyans and entrepreneurs with digital and AI-related skills.
“Technology alone cannot drive progress,” emphasized Phyllis Migwi, Microsoft Kenya Country General Manager. “The real determinant of Kenya’s success in the AI era will be its people — their creativity, resilience, and skill. We must aspire to be not just consumers but creators and innovators of AI solutions.”
Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, reiterated the importance of developing AI systems that prioritize human welfare and environmental sustainability.
“The true measure of innovation is whether technology sustains our planet and empowers our people,” he said. “Kenya must build its own knowledge base and scientific capacity to ensure we are not merely users of AI but active contributors to its global evolution.”
Similarly, Caroline Njuki from the International Labour Organization (ILO) emphasized that AI should promote inclusive growth, decent work, and fairness across Kenya’s labor market.
KAISA’s initial two-year implementation plan outlines several concrete initiatives aimed at accelerating AI readiness and application across multiple sectors. These include:
- Formation of sector-specific working groups in agriculture, health, education, finance, and manufacturing.
- Launch of nationwide AI training and reskilling programs.
- Youth innovation acceleration and mentorship programs to nurture the next generation of AI entrepreneurs.
- Establishment of applied research partnerships between academia and industry.
- Development of ethical, governance, and regulatory frameworks to ensure safe and inclusive AI adoption.
The program invites broad participation from private companies, universities, civil society, and development agencies to co-create and implement these initiatives.
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Through KAISA, Kenya aims to establish one of the most dynamic and inclusive AI talent pipelines in Africa, serving as a model for responsible and sustainable AI development across the continent. Ultimately, the alliance reinforces Kenya’s long-term vision: to build an economy where artificial intelligence expands opportunities, enhances productivity, and ensures that no one is left behind in the digital revolution.