By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Kenya is exploring strategic
partnerships with artificial intelligence company Anthropic to expand
responsible AI adoption, strengthen digital skills and support the development
of practical AI applications across government and critical sectors.
Principal Secretary for the
State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, held
discussions with an Anthropic team led by Amb. Courtney O’Donnell and Samari
Gilbert on opportunities to strengthen Kenya’s emerging AI ecosystem.
The discussions focused on
expanding AI skills development for public servants, small and medium-sized
enterprises and larger businesses, alongside efforts to strengthen
cybersecurity capabilities and support AI safety and evaluation.
The two sides also examined
opportunities to develop practical AI use cases across government and other
critical sectors, with targeted pilot programmes, technical training and
knowledge exchange identified as potential areas of collaboration.
Tanui said Kenya has already
made significant investments in digital talent and is strengthening its policy
environment through the Kenya AI Strategy 2025–2030 and ongoing work on the AI
and Emerging Technologies Policy.
He said the priority now is
to translate these policy and skills foundations into practical programmes that
build national capacity, attract investment and accelerate responsible AI
adoption.
The engagement also explored
collaboration with Kenya’s AI and cybersecurity institutions, universities,
industry players and the wider innovation ecosystem to expand technical
capabilities and support locally relevant AI solutions.
Tanui emphasised the
importance of stronger partnerships between government, technology companies,
academia and industry in ensuring that Kenya does not simply adopt artificial
intelligence but develops the talent, safeguards and innovation capacity required
to shape its future.
