The government has unveiled the first
national policy on artificial intelligence, introducing new safeguards on use
of citizens' data.
The policy also lays the ground for wider
adoption across banking, healthcare, education, farming and public services.
The Kenya Artificial Intelligence and Other
Emerging Technologies Policy, 2026, seeks to ensure AI improves people's lives
without compromising privacy.
The policy came as AI is being adopted for everyday
services, from digital lending and job recruitment to medical diagnosis and
customer support.
The growing use has raised concerns over how
personal data is collected, stored and used.
One of the major focus of the policy the ICT
ministry wants public views on is giving Kenya greater control over its data.
It says the government will invest in local
data centres, cloud infrastructure and high-performance computing facilities to
reduce dependence on foreign-owned systems.
The policy says AI platform providers have
to ensure data generated in Kenya is governed under Kenyan laws.
"Kenya must build sovereign digital
infrastructure that safeguards national interests while supporting
innovation," the policy says.
The framework also provides that
organisations developing or deploying AI must comply with the Data Protection
Act.
This and other existing privacy laws will be
required to be adhered to whenever they process personal information.
Beyond protecting data, the government wants
AI to improve the quality of services in key sectors of the economy.
The policy identifies agriculture,
healthcare, education, financial services and public administration as priority
areas for AI adoption to improve productivity, efficiency and service delivery.
In agriculture, AI-powered tools will help
farmers predict droughts, pest attacks and crop diseases, allowing them to
respond before losses occur.
In healthcare, the technology will support
faster diagnosis of diseases such as tuberculosis and cervical cancer while
improving access to quality medical services.
Schools are expected to benefit from
personalised learning systems that adapt to students' needs.
For their part, banks and financial
institutions will use AI to strengthen fraud detection, improve customer
service and expand access to financial products.
Government agencies are expected to deploy AI
to speed up service delivery, reduce bureaucracy, improve planning and make
better use of public resources.
"The government will promote the
adoption of AI across priority sectors to improve productivity, service
delivery and economic competitiveness," the policy states.
The policy requires AI systems to be
transparent, secure and accountable, especially where they influence decisions
that affect people's lives.
For ordinary Kenyans, this means stricter controls
when AI is used in services such as loan approvals, recruitment, healthcare,
insurance and government programmes.
The policy says people should know, and be
informed when they don’t, when they are interacting with an AI system instead
of a human being.
The state further wants users enabled to
question or seek a review of important decisions made by algorithms.
The policy also seeks to protect children,
persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups from harmful or
manipulative AI systems.
The framework also seeks to ensure Kenya
benefits economically from the AI revolution instead of remaining a consumer of
foreign technologies.
The government plans to support universities,
researchers and start-ups through improved access to computing infrastructure
and funding for AI innovation.
It also proposes developing AI tools in
Kiswahili and other Kenyan languages to ensure more people can access the
technology.
To oversee implementation, the government
plans to establish a National AI and Other Emerging Technologies Council.
The council will coordinate AI development across ministries, regulators, academia and the private sector.
A Kenya AI Safety Institute will also be
created to assess high-risk AI systems for bias, security, and compliance with
ethical standards before they are widely deployed.
ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said the
policy marks a major step in digital transformation by balancing innovation
with public protection.
He said the framework seeks to create an
environment where investment and innovation can thrive while safeguarding
citizens against emerging risks.
There are fears of misuse of data, cyber
threats and bias in terms of the algorithms deployed by the system.
Principal Secretary John Tanui said the
policy addresses gaps in governance, infrastructure and coordination.
The policy will guide the development of an
AI Governance Act and supporting regulations to give legal backing to the new
safeguards.
