Kenya To Host Global Military AI Summit In 2027

Kenya will host the fourth Summit on Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) in Nairobi in April 2027, marking the first time the global forum on military artificial intelligence will be held in Africa.

The announcement was made by Ambassador Philip Thigo, Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, on behalf of Soipan Tuya, Defence Cabinet Secretary during the AI, Security and Ethics Conference in Geneva.

According to Thigo, the Nairobi summit will focus on the practical implementation of responsible AI through capacity building, institutional readiness, international cooperation, and collaboration between governments, defence institutions, industry, academia, and international organisations.

REAIM is the world’s leading multilateral forum dedicated to the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the military domain. The platform brings together governments, defence establishments, technology companies, researchers, and civil society to discuss how AI can be deployed in military settings while maintaining accountability, human oversight, and compliance with international law.

The 2027 summit will be the fourth in the REAIM series. The inaugural event was held in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2023, followed by Seoul, South Korea, in 2024 and A Coruña, Spain, in 2026.

Kenya has played an active role in the initiative, serving as a co-host of the Seoul summit alongside the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Hosting the 2027 edition elevates Kenya’s role within the process and brings the conversation on military AI governance to the African continent for the first time.

The summit is expected to provide African countries with greater access to discussions shaping global norms around the use of artificial intelligence in defence and security, an area where many countries from the continent have traditionally had limited representation.

The announcement also provides continuity for the REAIM process following the conclusion of the third summit in Spain, where questions had emerged about the future direction of the initiative and the location of a subsequent gathering.

The Nairobi meeting is expected to place greater emphasis on helping governments and defence institutions translate previously agreed principles on responsible military AI into practical implementation frameworks.

The summit will take place as Kenya continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub for technology policy, digital governance, and international dialogue on emerging technologies. The country has recently advanced its national AI strategy and expanded participation in global discussions on AI governance and digital development.

Further details on the summit, including dates, venue, and programme structure, are expected to be announced as preparations progress.