Kenya’s Cabinet has taken a significant stride in shaping its digital future by establishing a Standing Cabinet Committee on Artificial Intelligence. This high-level body is tasked with spearheading the nation’s AI strategy, ensuring cross-governmental policy coordination, and positioning Kenya as a leader in responsible AI development across the region. The committee’s mandate encompasses fostering AI-driven innovation, enhancing public service delivery, stimulating job creation, and promoting inclusive economic growth, all while establishing robust governance frameworks and essential safeguards. This move places AI coordination at the core of governmental decision-making.
The newly formed committee complements, rather than replaces, the National AI Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy and was instrumental in developing the national strategy. The Cabinet committee is expected to clarify lines of responsibility for coordinating national AI initiatives with the ministry and for managing AI policy discussions within Parliament.
This strategic development builds upon the Kenya Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025-2030, launched in March 2025. The strategy is anchored by three key pillars: AI digital infrastructure; data and AI governance; and AI research, innovation, and commercialization. A particular focus is placed on cultivating localized AI models tailored for critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and public services. The development of this strategy received support from international partners including the European Union, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Development Research Centre, and the U.K.’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The economic implications of these initiatives are substantial. Research by Public First projects that AI could contribute approximately $2.4 billion to Kenya’s economy by 2030. Concurrently, the country’s information and communications technology market is forecast to reach $14.92 billion by the same year, underscoring the significant commercial opportunities in the digital sphere.
In parallel, the Cabinet also adopted a National Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Policy. This policy aims to attract international investment, generate employment for the nation’s youth, and expand Kenya’s footprint in the global BPO market. With the global BPO market projected to surpass 68 trillion Kenyan shillings ($526 billion) by 2030, Kenya intends to leverage its English-speaking workforce, advantageous time zone, and established digital infrastructure to capture a larger share of this lucrative market.
The establishment of the AI committee follows a period of intensive legislative activity. In February 2026, a draft Artificial Intelligence Bill was introduced in the Senate, proposing the creation of an independent Office of the Artificial Intelligence Commissioner. This bill outlined a four-tier risk classification system, mirroring the European Union’s AI Act, and stipulated penalties including fines of up to 5 million Kenyan shillings (approximately $40,000) and two-year prison sentences for the creation or distribution of harmful AI-generated content. Subsequently, the Senate directed the relevant ministry to draft a comprehensive national AI policy encompassing research, ethical guidelines, regulatory sandboxes, and AI education.
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