Kenya has commissioned the Kenya Artificial Intelligence Skilling Alliance (KAISA), a national initiative by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and Microsoft to advance AI skills, innovation, and policy coordination.
The alliance unveiled on Monday, November 4, 2025, aims to make Kenya Africa’s AI talent hub by connecting education, industry, and government to foster inclusion, job creation, and digital transformation.
The alliance seeks to coordinate AI skills development, innovation, and policy collaboration across key sectors of the economy, bringing together stakeholders from government, private sector, academia, and development partners to strengthen Kenya’s competitiveness in the global AI marketplace.
In a statement announcing the initiative, KEPSA Deputy CEO and Global Director for Youth and Jobs, Ehud Gachugu, described KAISA as a transformative effort designed to unlock Kenya’s full digital potential.
“KAISA is focused on inclusivity, job creation, and social transformation. Africa’s youthful population remains our greatest advantage,” said Gachugu. “Through coordinated efforts, the Alliance will connect innovation with opportunity, enhance training quality, and scale successful models that empower communities to participate meaningfully in the global digital economy.”
According to the announcement, the AI skilling platform will strengthen Kenya’s position as a leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution by investing in skills development that ranges from basic digital literacy to advanced artificial intelligence expertise.
The goal is to ensure that Kenyans at all levels, from students and entrepreneurs to policymakers, are equipped to thrive in an AI-driven economy.
The alliance also seeks to build a structured national ecosystem that integrates training, research, and innovation.
It will do this through coordinated programs that align with Kenya’s broader economic transformation goals, including the country’s Digital Economy Blueprint and Vision 2030.
The launch builds on KEPSA and Microsoft’s long-standing collaboration on digital skilling initiatives that have already trained thousands of young Kenyans and small businesses in emerging technologies such as cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
Under KAISA, the two organizations will expand their partnership to focus on curriculum development in AI and emerging technologies, innovation incubation through startups and community hubs, research partnerships in key industries, including agriculture, health, education, finance, and manufacturing.
The alliance’s roadmap outlines three immediate priorities, establishing sector-based working groups to guide AI adoption in specific industries, rolling out national skilling programs, and creating an AI repository and innovation hub to showcase Kenyan-led AI use cases.
In addition, KAISA will serve as a platform for ethical AI governance, promoting policies and frameworks that ensure AI development and deployment in Kenya adhere to principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability.
“The Alliance will coordinate innovation with opportunity and align talent development with national innovation priorities,” the statement noted, emphasizing that KAISA will foster stronger collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and private sector innovators.
Kenya’s readiness for large-scale AI adoption is already evident.
The country ranks fourth in Africa for AI talent readiness, with a score of 49.70, according to 2025 research by digital strategy firm Qhala and Qubit Hub.
This strong position makes Kenya one of the continent’s best-placed economies to lead in AI-driven innovation and job creation.
Recent projections from Access Partnership indicate that AI could unlock Sh17.68 trillion in economic value by 2030 across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, reaffirming the immense potential of AI for Africa’s growth.
By focusing on developing local talent, Kenya is strategically positioning itself to capture a significant share of this opportunity.
The KAISA initiative is expected to transform Kenya’s digital economy, drive inclusive employment, and promote technological sovereignty, ensuring that local industries benefit from homegrown innovation and expertise.
As the alliance begins implementation, it will engage universities, vocational training institutions, technology companies, and development agencies to harmonize AI education standards and accelerate innovation that meets both national and global needs.
Kenya’s ambition, as reflected in the KAISA rollout, is clear to become the continental leader in AI skills, research, and innovation, and to equip its youth and enterprises for the future of work in an intelligent, connected world.
“This is not just about technology,” Gachugu said. “It’s about giving Kenyans the tools to create the future they deserve.”
