The government of Kenya and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH are partnering up to launch a project focused on devising a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy. This initiative is being supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union and has been titled “FAIR Forward – Artificial Intelligence for All.”
Although the initiative acknowledges the challenges posed by this advanced technology, it also highlights the potential of AI in spearheading Kenya’s digital transformation and aiding the nation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Interestingly, this development follows a recommendation from the Kenya Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Society a month earlier, suggesting a prison term up to 24 months or a penalty up to KSh 1 million (equivalent to $6,250), or both, for AI and robotic entities operating without a license.
The proposed bill aims to establish the Kenya Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Society, which is to be responsible for the regulation of Internet of Things (IoT), AI, and robotics. The society’s role will also be to promote the ethical development of these technologies, foster cooperation among stakeholders and practitioners, ensure compliance, and advise the government on the latest AI trends.
In order to pave a path for the launch of this new initiative, a physical meeting was organized with 70 key influential figures from diverse sectors such as industry, academia, government, and civil society on April 8, 2024, at the Mercure Hotel in Nairobi.
The objective of the meeting was to identify potential gaps and opportunities in Kenya’s AI sector, explore ongoing initiatives and partnerships, establish priorities for the National AI Strategy, and gather feedback on the strategy development process.
According to the GIZ Country Director, Bodo Immink, “This project denotes a significant progress for Kenya in leveraging AI for sustainable development and social inclusion.”
Furthermore, during their meeting, stakeholders deliberated on issues related to Research and Development (R&D), data sets, data collection methods, and identifying the entities that should be involved in developing the National AI Strategy.
The demand for Artificial Intelligence has been steadily growing. Back in December 2022, the University of Johannesburg, which holds the sixth rank among African universities for its research quality in AI, announced that it was making artificial intelligence courses a mandatory part of the curriculum for all qualifications it offers.
Based on research findings, artificial intelligence has the potential to add up to $15.7 trillion to the worldwide economy by 2030. For Africa, it could mean a possible generation of $1.2 trillion, translating to a 5.6% rise in the continent’s GDP by 2030.
In comparison, Nigeria seems to be lagging behind, primarily due to factors such as insufficient infrastructure and lack of education, as suggested by experts. This suggests that the country has significant room for growth and a long journey ahead in the AI field.
