Nairobi has been selected to host the 4th Summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM) in April 2027, making it the first time the global event will be held in Africa.
The announcement was made in Geneva during the UN-affiliated AI, Security and Ethics Conference by Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, on behalf of Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya.
The summit is a global platform that brings together governments and stakeholders to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in military operations, including the development of rules, ethical standards and governance frameworks.
Previous editions of the summit have been hosted by the Netherlands, South Korea and Spain.
Kenya’s selection to host the 2027 summit places Nairobi at the centre of international discussions on the future of artificial intelligence in security and defence.
According to Ambassador Thigo, Kenya’s role will focus on helping countries move from broad AI principles to practical safeguards and implementation measures.
He said the country’s approach will be guided by four key areas: capacity building, institutional readiness, international cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement.
The summit is also expected to give African countries a stronger voice in ongoing conversations about emerging technologies and their impact on global security.
Hosting the event will provide an opportunity for countries from Africa and the Global South to contribute to discussions on issues such as autonomous weapon systems, machine learning in defence operations and other AI-driven security technologies.
The 2027 gathering is expected to bring together policymakers, security experts, technology leaders and international organisations to discuss the responsible use of artificial intelligence in military settings.
The announcement comes as countries around the world continue to develop policies and frameworks to guide the growing use of AI in security, defence and other critical sectors.
