Kenya advancing policies for optimal deployment of artificial intelligence

BY EVALYNE GITHINJI (PCO)

Kenya is advancing policies that focus on responsible artificial intelligence (AI) innovation to ensure AI development and deployment is safe and aligned with the country’s societal values.

Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Dr. Margaret Ndung’u stated that the country has developed guidelines to systematically assess, understand, and mitigate the risks associated with AI systems, especially in critical areas such as cybersecurity and national infrastructure.

The CS, who was speaking during the Advancing Sustainable Development, Using Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Session held at the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79), pointed out the importance of grounding the approach to AI governance on inclusivity and agility.

“Much of the global discourse is focused on cutting-edge technology and advanced use cases, often underlined by a risk-based approach. However, the reality for many developing countries is starkly different: you cannot govern what you do not have, produce, or fully understand,” she noted.

CS Ndung’u opined that efforts to derisk AI systems must go hand in hand with improving access to these technologies, not as a precondition but as part of a balanced approach.

Further pointing out the need to craft policies and frameworks that mitigate the risks of AI without imposing insurmountable obstacles and compliance costs on the private sector.

The CS observed that international collaboration is essential for capacity building, exchanging knowledge and information, enhancing technical expertise, addressing technology gaps and co-creation.

She appreciated global efforts to advance the discourse on digital transformation through initiatives by Global Digital Compact, the Global Digital Dialogue and U.S- led resolution on safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence.

“These institutions lay out the foundation to address information asymmetries and inform decision making, exchange best practices and standards, and to enhance access to and use of these technologies,” the CS said.

She reiterated that Kenya is looking forward to building on these tremendous steps that have built consensus, reduced fragmentation and aligned AI risks and opportunities towards humanity and closer to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Notably, Kenya is keen on development of digital infrastructure through the Digital Superhighway Agenda, whereby the government is expanding fibre network coverage countrywide, which entails laying of 100,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable.

Other remarkable initiatives include setting up 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots and 1,450 digital village smart hubs countrywide.

The creation of Jitume hubs in institutions of higher learning open diverse platforms for the youths to get digital literacy skills, create jobs in the digital space and get virtual employment opportunities.

The government has been actively automating its services resulting in an increase in e- government services development, she said.

Part of automation entails business processes, digitization of manual records, enhancing data sharing across agencies and use of a single unique identifier for access to digital services.