Kenya, Germany begin talks to establish Centre of African Excellence for Applied Artificial Intelligence
Date: 2026-02-03
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Kenya
has begun preliminary consultations with Germany on the establishment of a
Centre of African Excellence for Applied Artificial Intelligence, a move aimed
at strengthening research, innovation, and capacity building in emerging
digital technologies.
The
discussions took place in Nairobi, where the Principal Secretary for the State
Department of ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, CBS, hosted a
high-level delegation from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology
and Space (BMFTR). The delegation was led by Mr. Erik Hansalek, Head of
Department for Cooperation with Africa and the Middle East, and included senior
ministerial officials as well as representatives from the German Embassy in
Nairobi.
The
meeting focused on laying the groundwork for a proposed centre that would
advance applied artificial intelligence research, teaching, and innovation,
while supporting skills development across the continent. The initiative is
aligned with Kenya’s National AI Strategy 2025–2030 and is expected to position
the country as a regional hub for ethical AI development and locally relevant
solutions.
Also
in attendance were Prof. Emmanuel Mutisya, PhD, Council Chairman of the Kenya
Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kenya-AIST), and Prof. J. W.
Khamasi, EBS, Acting Principal and Council Secretary of Kenya-AIST. Kenya-AIST
is expected to play a central role in hosting and anchoring the proposed
Centre.
Discussions
covered potential collaboration frameworks, responsible AI governance, talent
development, data ecosystems, and the next steps toward formalising the
partnership between Kenya and Germany. Both sides underscored the importance of
international cooperation in leveraging artificial intelligence as a driver of
inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
The
Government of Kenya expressed appreciation for Germany’s continued commitment
to research and technology cooperation in Africa, noting that the proposed
Centre could have a transformative impact not only for Kenya but for the wider
African region.
