Image source: Telecom Review Africa
The development of Kenya’s first National Artificial Intelligence Policy officially began at the Inception Stakeholder Workshop held on 18 November 2025 at Radisson Blu, Upperhill. Valarie N. Waswa & Co. Advocates joined government officials, regulators, private sector leaders, academics, innovators, and development partners in a room filled with urgency and ambition. It was evident that Kenya can no longer afford to trail behind while other African countries accelerate their leadership in emerging technologies. The country needs a coordinated, forward-looking policy that matches the scale of global transformation.
A Country Ready to Compete
The morning keynote speeches set the stage for a serious national conversation. Kenya has always positioned itself as a digital leader in the continent, but the current pace of global AI adoption demands stronger structures. Partnerships such as the UK/Kenya collaboration, running through 2030, are already directing investment and technical support toward local innovation. Initiatives like the UK/Kenya AI Challenge Fund promise to unlock grants and seed financing for the next generation of Kenyan AI solutions. The ingredients exist. The policy must now organise them into a coherent national direction.
The Governance Conversation Kenya Needed
Valarie N. Waswa & Co. Advocates joined the breakout group tasked with legal, governance, and regulatory frameworks. The discussions went straight to the heart of the challenge. Kenya’s legal landscape does not adequately cover automated decision systems, algorithmic transparency, model documentation, AI-enabled public service delivery, or the infrastructure that supports advanced computing. Agencies intend to use AI, yet no law defines responsible state adoption. Even well-established frameworks like the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act do not reflect the reality of procuring AI models, cloud platforms, or compute capacity.
The group grappled with the question of structure. Who should regulate AI in Kenya? The truth is that mandates already overlap across regulators, ministries, and agencies. A central authority may streamline coordination, yet counties also need the flexibility to address local use cases. The emerging view leaned toward a hybrid model that combines national consistency with responsive, on-the-ground implementation. It was the view of a majority in the room that Kenya must protect people without stifling innovation with rigid laws.
Keeping Kenya in Step with Global Standards
Another recurring point was the need to harmonise Kenya’s policy with global norms. UNESCO’s AI Ethics Principles, the OECD AI Principles, and the AU Digital Transformation Strategy already shape international expectations. Kenya must align with them, but without copying frameworks that restrict innovation or lock out local experimentation and local context. The policy must enable growth, encourage responsible adoption, and maintain Kenya’s competitiveness in an economy increasingly shaped by AI.
Ethics, Talent, and Data: The Other Rooms Had Plenty to Say
While the governance group shaped regulatory priorities, other teams tackled equally critical areas. The ethics group examined the realities of fairness and safety in a country with diverse cultures and languages. They emphasised AI systems that respect communities, adapt to local contexts, and serve real people rather than theoretical models.
Another group focused on innovation, research, and talent development. Their conversation revealed the gaps between academic research and real-world application. Kenya needs problem-led research agendas, stronger commercialization pathways, predictable incentives for global and local research institutions, and alternative education routes that expose young people to digital skills early. Experiential learning stood out as a powerful tool for building a skilled workforce.
The data infrastructure team stressed a national data governance framework that connects fragmented datasets, promotes interoperability, and opens space for synthetic data and federated learning. They underscored the cost of GPUs and cloud infrastructure, a problem that continues to slow Kenya’s ability to compete globally. Public-private partnerships emerged as a practical solution for building national datasets and cloud platforms.
AI and Cybersecurity: Two Conversations That Must Move Together
AI cannot advance without a strong cybersecurity posture. The cybersecurity group acknowledged the gaps in current legislation and the need for faster updates to keep pace with emerging technologies. They highlighted the rise of AI-facilitated cyberattacks and the broader geopolitical implications of compute access, GPUs, treaties, and foreign cloud dependence.
They also explored the future of work. Kenya may see job displacement in the short term, but significant job creation in new AI-enabled sectors. Historians and social scientists called for a deeper understanding of Kenya’s place in this technological moment. Their message was simple. A country that understands its past can define its future with clarity.
Charting the Road Ahead
The closing session outlined what comes next. The Ministry of ICT and the British High Commission will guide the policy development process through a multi stakeholder, evidence led approach. The next phase includes county consultations, sector specific engagements, technical working groups, and a synthesis report culminating in the first draft of the Kenya National AI Policy. Once reviewed and validated, the policy will move toward Cabinet approval.
Kenya’s AI journey has begun, and it has begun with intention. The workshop left no doubt that the country recognises the scale of the opportunity and the seriousness of the risks. What matters now is execution.
Final Takeaway
AI will influence every sector in Kenya, from finance to agriculture to justice systems. Organisations that prepare early will stand ahead of regulatory shifts, emerging standards, and new compliance expectations. Valarie N. Waswa & Co. Advocates continues to guide businesses, government entities, and innovators as the country shapes its AI future.
If your organisation is building, deploying, procuring, or experimenting with AI, this is the moment to plan ahead. Reach out to us for guidance on governance, compliance, digital policy, and responsible adoption. Kenya’s AI future is unfolding, and your organisation deserves clarity as the landscape takes shape.
About the Author
Valarie Waswa is a tech law expert, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and East Africa by extension, and the Founding Partner of Valarie Waswa & Co. Advocates
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