In March, Kenya unveiled its National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy 2025–2030, signalling a bold ambition to become Africa’s AI powerhouse.
This strategy, anchored on AI digital infrastructure, data ecosystems, and research and innovation, reflects a comprehensive vision for leveraging AI to drive sustainable development, economic growth, and inclusion.
The recent launch of the Huawei ICT Academy at the Open University of Kenya, in partnership with the tech firm and Equity Group Foundation, exemplifies this vision. The academy aims to equip more than 10,000 students with skills in high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and software development by offering AI and ICT courses.
This initiative addresses the digital skills gap and fosters innovation that directly tackles local challenges.
The world is shifting beneath our feet, and AI is the earthquake. OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in November 2022 was not just the birth of a chatbot—it was the dawn of a new era. By January 2025, the o3-mini-high model pushed the boundaries of what we imagined machines could do.
We can’t afford to hold back progress with these developments, especially not in Africa.
In this era of AI disruption, companies will not remain stagnant because their staff is lazy or untalented. They will stay so if their systems and missions are structurally outdated. The same holds true for sectors like agriculture, education, and climate resilience. Our development challenges aren’t rooted in a lack of willpower—they stem from obsolete approaches.
AI offers us a chance to leapfrog.
The question is not whether AI will change every industry. It’s how we can guide it to ensure the changes are inclusive and sustainable. AI can decode satellite images to monitor deforestation in real-time, a crucial tool in combating climate change.
It can optimise irrigation in arid regions, a key solution for improving agricultural productivity. It can forecast locust invasions, a vital early warning system for protecting crops, and even guides farmers through drought-resilient planting schedules. In the hands of smallholder farmers in Kitui or Turkana, AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a lifeline.
Fortunately, the wheels of policy are turning. The ICT ministry has launched efforts to integrate AI into national strategies. Across Africa, leaders are rallying under platforms like Smart Africa and the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy. However, government action is only one part of the equation.
Civil society, the private sector, and development partners must align to ensure AI doesn’t deepen inequality but uplifts communities.
The real risk isn’’t that AI will be misused—it's that we won't use it enough or in the right ways. However, we must also be vigilant about potential misuse.
This includes ensuring data privacy, guarding against algorithmic biases, and establishing ethical guidelines for AI use. By addressing these risks, we can harness AI’s full potential for the benefit of all.
Let's be clear: AI is not perfect. It carries biases, demands data privacy safeguards, and must be applied ethically. But dismissing it outright—especially in maintaining "traditional standards"—is a mistake we can't afford. We must equip our youth, educators, and local leaders with AI literacy, not punish them for embracing it.
The revolution is already here. As with fire in humanity's early days, those who learn to harness it will thrive; those who resist will be left behind.
Africa must not be a passive consumer in this wave—we must be active creators, developers, and regulators. Let us embrace AI as a technological trend and as a partner in climate action, sustainable development, and equity.
It's time to build a new structurally sound, mission-driven bridge, and it must be built with the right tools. AI is one of the strongest tools we have today.
