Kenya has officially launched its AI & Emerging Technologies Technical Committee, a multi‑stakeholder team tasked with developing the country’s first national AI and Emerging Technologies policy.
The Policy development process is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Information Communication and the Digital Economy (MICDE) with KICTANet as the lead implementing partner. It is also supported by the British High Commission (BHC) in Nairobi through its governance and digital transformation portfolio. This support forms part of the broader UK–Kenya strategic partnership on responsible AI and emerging technologies, underscoring the UK’s commitment to advancing ethical, inclusive, and transparent AI governance frameworks across Africa.
The policy development process which commenced in late 2025 with a national stakeholders workshop, is designed to embed artificial intelligence into Kenya’s national development priorities while ensuring constitutional compliance and broad stakeholder participation.
The committee brings together diverse experts from academia, civil society, government, startups, and international partners. Their mission: to provide technical leadership, ensure broad participation, and deliver a framework that guides responsible AI adoption across sectors such as agriculture, health, governance, and technology.
“The policy cannot be delivered by one person. It’s a collective effort, given that it’s something broader for the Kenyan public,” said Wilfred Omondi, Emerging Tech Advisor at the British High Commission. “Our role as the UK Government is to finance the exercise and offer expertise where needed. Each of you here has a crucial role to play, and we count on your support, intelligence, and collaboration to deliver a document that not only makes us proud but also delivers a positive impact to the country.”
The work plan is structured into five phases: scoping and stakeholder engagement, policy drafting, consultations, finalization, and implementation. Sectoral roundtables are scheduled for February 2026, engaging academia, civil society, media, private sector, and government representatives. By June 2026, the committee aims to finalize the policy, with substantial drafts ready by March.
Dr Grace Githaiga, CEO and Convenor KICTANet, emphasized the importance of collaboration and inclusivity:
“We are playing a supportive role to this Committee, and I’m happy to see all of you here. The exciting work ahead will only succeed if we keep collaboration at the center. Public participation must be strong so that this policy reflects the voices of all Kenyans.”
Adding urgency and strategic perspective, Ms. Mary Kerema, OGW, Secretary for ICT, E‑Government and the Digital Economy, highlighted the policy’s significance:
“This policy is very key to any emerging technologies, and it is going to set the precedence. It will be the mother of emerging technologies, providing the overarching framework from which strategies can be developed.”
“Our goal is to deliver a policy that stands the test of time and sets the pace in the region. Many countries have not yet developed such a policy or strategy, so Kenya must strive to be above board learning from global best practices and international leaders in AI and emerging technologies. Once our policy is enacted, people can even come to learn from us.”
The committee’s approach is iterative, with multiple drafts expected before finalization. Members will contribute domain‑specific expertise—ranging from ethics and data governance to infrastructure and AI safety—while remaining open to cross‑cutting collaboration.
Kenya’s AI policy will sit above sector‑specific strategies, serving as a guiding framework for responsible innovation. By combining global benchmarking with local realities, the committee aims to position Kenya as a regional leader in AI governance.
As Omondi noted, the stakes are high: “At the end of the day, we want a policy that delivers positive impact when it comes to AI deployment, adoption, and usage. That’s the measure of success.”
The members of the Committee are:
- George Musumba, PhD
- Stephanie Kasaon, PhD
- Victor Kapiyo
- Joseph Kihanya
- Michael Michie
- Elizabeth Orembo
- Veronica Shiroya Osanya
- Tonee Ndungu
- Ikran Abdirahman
- Diana Nyakundi
- Dennis Miano, PhD
- Victor Otieno
- Mike Mutungi
- Ronald Ojino, PhD
- Pressy Akinyi
- Munyala Mwalo
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