Kenya, UK Partner To Launch The AI Challenge Fund

Kenya has taken a significant step forward in building a responsible and robust artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem with the launch of the UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund, led by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS).

ACTS, recognized for its role in development research across Africa, focuses on leveraging science, technology, and innovation policies to promote sustainable development. The UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund represents a collaborative effort between Kenya and the United Kingdom, aimed at strengthening cross-border partnerships and encouraging the ethical development and application of AI technologies.

The fund will support projects aligned with Kenya’s national AI strategy, targeting critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and public service delivery. By prioritizing safety, ethics, equity, and inclusion, the initiative seeks to ensure that AI’s benefits reach all Kenyans, creating an inclusive ecosystem that addresses both social and technological needs.

During his keynote address, Ali Hussein Kassim, Board Chair at the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), emphasized the fund’s dual mission of fostering AI growth through policy and systems alignment, while simultaneously building institutional capacity.

“Through this fund, our objective is clear: to strengthen UK-Kenya partnerships around AI to build Kenya’s AI ecosystem with a dual approach – policy and systems alignment on one hand, and institutional capacity building on the other,” Hussein Kasim noted.

In addition to advancing AI governance by fostering ethical frameworks, the UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund will enable Kenyan institutions to build their expertise in AI, positioning them at the forefront of research and innovation within Africa. The fund is also committed to supporting projects that address critical societal challenges, ultimately producing AI solutions that are both innovative and impactful.

This approach not only enhances Kenya’s AI capabilities but also establishes a foundation for an inclusive and ethically-driven AI landscape. By nurturing a culture of responsible innovation and international collaboration, the UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund is paving the way for sustainable AI growth in Kenya and setting an example for AI development in Africa and beyond.