Kenya will rake in an estimated $254 million (Sh32.8 billion) in revenues from business process outsourcing (BPO) in 2024 majorly driven by rise in digital work, Sama AI CEO Wendy Gonzalez has said.
The country has emerged as one of the leading Global Business Services (GBS) market destinations that are now attracting more than $500 million (Sh64.5 billion) in revenues annually.
Gonzalez said that Kenya has emerged as an attractive investment destination in the highly competitive GBS market, which includes BPO as a submarket which has now grown to include AI supply chain providers.
Speaking in Nairobi during a public lecture on Generative AI, Gonzalez noted that the GBS market reached $1 trillion (Sh129 trillion) in revenues last year, with South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco also playing in the maturing league.
“Kenya is a preferred destination due to the quality of human capital that is versatile enough to serve various market segments, including Generative AI, thanks to digital training and academic progress,” said Gonzalez.
She however, said that several countries are, fighting hard to edge Kenya out of its growth track, which necessitates close attention to secure market positioning.
“Studies have shown that digital work increases formal employment opportunities and is the fastest-growing sector. Kenya has made very good headway amidst stiff competition and must avoid complacency by guarding its market positioning and providing an enabling environment to further deepen the GBS market opportunity,” she added
With its $500 million (Sh64.5 billion) GBS revenues, Kenya is leading among emerging GBS destinations including Senegal, Nigeria, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Ghana.
She projected that at current growth rates, Kenya will emerge as the leading provider of digital work opportunities with a positive local economic ripple effect.
While commenting on the skills required to secure our national market positioning, Gonzalez noted that by 2030, an estimated 50-55 percent of jobs in Kenya will require digital skills.
“Yet there are significant gaps in basic and advanced digital skills—particularly in rural areas and among women,” she said.
State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui said that Generative AI alone could add between $2.6 trillion (Sh335trillion) and $4.4 trillion (Sh568 trillion) annually to the global economy.
“With 65 per cent of organizations already integrating Generative AI into operations, its impact is undeniable, from enhancing customer service to revolutionising industries. "
"As we embrace this digital future, partnerships and education in STEM are key to preparing our workforce for the opportunities ahead,” said Tanui.
They were speaking after Sama AI and the University of Nairobi signed a partnership to advance Generative AI capabilities in Kenya and in Africa as a whole.
This collaboration will provide part-time employment opportunities for UoN faculty and students, equipping them with practical experience in GenAI.
This initiative aligns with the broader goal of bridging the digital divide and positioning Kenya as a global AI value chain leader.
