Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy released the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030 in March 2025, positioning Kenya as a regional and global leader in AI research, innovation, and application. The strategy proposes comprehensive education reform beginning at primary level and extending through tertiary education, embedding computational thinking, machine learning concepts, data literacy, and AI ethics directly into the national curriculum, with the stated goal of ensuring that students regardless of socioeconomic background are exposed to foundational AI economy skills. Implementation is overseen by a National AI Steering Committee coordinating sectoral agencies, counties, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
Workforce development provisions include integrating AI literacy into school curricula, expanding university AI and data science programmes, and supporting upskilling through bootcamps and public-private partnerships. In late 2024, fifteen Digital Innovation Hubs were selected to serve as community-based AI and digital literacy training centres, specifically targeting underserved groups including women and youth.
Who it affects: Students across the Kenyan education system once curriculum reforms are implemented; workers in targeted sectors through upskilling initiatives; underserved communities through the Digital Innovation Hubs. The National AI Steering Committee coordinates government, county, private sector, and civil society actors.
What is notably missing: The strategy is a policy document, not legislation; its curriculum and workforce provisions are aspirational rather than legally binding. No enacted law mandates AI literacy in schools or obligates employers to train staff. Kenya lacks a standalone AI regulation or dedicated AI regulator; governance relies on the Ministry of ICT and the Steering Committee without independent enforcement powers. The strategy does not define a minimum AI literacy standard or specify how compliance with curriculum integration will be monitored.