Kenya has announced the creation of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) skilling project board aimed at equipping 100,000 public sector employees with essential AI capabilities.
The initiative was officially launched during the inaugural meeting of the project implementation board for the Regional Centre of Competence (RCOC) on Digital and AI Skills for Public Service.
The meeting, co-chaired by Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, principal secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, and Lars Tushuizen, UNDP Kenya deputy resident representative, brought together senior government officials, development partners, and technology experts, including representatives from Microsoft. The gathering focused on accelerating the integration of AI into public service delivery to enhance efficiency and decision-making.
During the session, the composition of the Project Board was formalised to establish governance and oversight mechanisms. Participants also approved the Continued Implementation Plan for the Digital and AI Skills agenda, which aims to generate tangible impacts at both national and regional levels.
A significant milestone achieved at the meeting was the rollout of a transparent, merit-based selection process for the first cohort of 10,000 public employees, with 66% now prepared to commence training. The long-term vision is to train a total of 100,000 public servants in AI, fostering improved governance and operational efficiency.
Kenya plans to share its AI skilling methodology and resources with 37 other African nations, positioning the country as a continental hub for AI expertise. This collaborative effort aims to strengthen AI capabilities across Africa, supporting public sector reform beyond national borders.
“With these steps, Kenya is positioning itself as a continental leader in AI excellence, boosting efficiency, decision-making, and inclusive governance,” said Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui.
The RCOC project aligns with Kenya’s broader digital transformation strategy, which seeks to prepare the public service with future-ready skills. This initiative follows the recent unveiling of Kenya’s National AI Strategy (2025-2030), a crucial move towards establishing the country as a leading nation in AI adoption and governance in Africa.
The government has committed fully to realising this vision, allocating Ksh 152 billion for the strategy’s implementation by 2030, with half of the funds dedicated to building AI infrastructure within this timeframe.
