The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Standing Cabinet Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to spearhead Kenya’s national AI strategy and position the country as a regional leader in the responsible development and adoption of artificial intelligence.
The decision was made during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting chaired by William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
According to the Cabinet dispatch, the committee will coordinate artificial intelligence policy across government and oversee the country’s efforts to harness AI for innovation, economic growth and improved public service delivery.
“Cabinet established a Standing Cabinet Committee on Artificial Intelligence to steer Kenya’s national AI strategy, coordinate policy across Government and position the country as a regional leader in the responsible development and adoption of artificial intelligence,” the Cabinet dispatch states.
The committee is expected to promote AI-driven innovation, boost productivity and create employment opportunities while ensuring appropriate governance frameworks and safeguards are put in place to guide the use of the technology.
The approval complements the government’s broader digital transformation agenda, which also saw Cabinet adopt the National Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Policy aimed at positioning Kenya as a leading global outsourcing destination.
The government says the AI strategy will help accelerate digital innovation, improve the delivery of public services and support inclusive economic growth as Kenya seeks to strengthen its competitiveness in the global digital economy.