Kenya is seeking to expand access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) knowledge beyond technology companies and major urban centres as the country strengthens its digital economy.
Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy John Tanui said AI should be treated as a citizen capability rather than an advantage reserved for an elite group with access to technology.
Tanui made the remarks after hosting Intel Corporation’s East Africa Country Manager Susan Mbogo at the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy.
The meeting focused on advancing a partnership between Intel, the Kenya National Library Service and the Mandela AI Hub Foundation under the AI for Citizens programme.
The initiative seeks to provide Kenyans with foundational AI knowledge and skills through institutions already embedded within local communities.
Tanui said the government would also leverage Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and the Open University of Kenya to scale AI learning across the country.
He noted that such institutions provide platforms for reaching young people and communities across counties, helping move AI education from isolated programmes to broader citizen literacy.
“The principle is straightforward: AI should not be a privilege determined by geography, income or proximity to technology centres,” Tanui said.
He added that the partnership had moved from signing agreements to implementation, with the next phase focused on taking AI knowledge directly to Kenyan citizens.
