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Microsoft, G42 Announce $1B Initiative For Kenya
Microsoft and AI firm G42 have announced a comprehensive package of digital investments in Kenya as part of an initiative with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy.
In collaboration with Microsoft and other stakeholders, G42 will lead the arrangement of an initial investment of $1 billion for the various components outlined in the comprehensive package. One of the Kenyan investment priorities is a state-of-the-art green data centre that G42 and its partners will build to run Microsoft Azure in a new East Africa Cloud Region.
President William Ruto stated “This partnership is bigger than technology itself. It is about the coming together of three countries with a common vision of a nation empowered by technology, where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive in the global digital landscape. It’s about building a future where Kenya flourishes as a digital leader.”
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The initiative will include four additional pillars that will be pursued with local partners:
- Local-language AI model development and research;
- An East Africa Innovation Lab coupled with broad AI digital skills training;
- International and local connectivity investments; and
- Collaboration with the government of Kenya to support safe and secure cloud services across East Africa.
A letter of intent formalising the relationship will be signed this Friday between Microsoft, G42 and the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, and was crafted with the assistance of the governments of the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
The President emphasised, “In the spirit of mutual growth and shared prosperity, this is a stepping stone toward a brighter, more connected and digitally empowered future for the USA, Kenya and the UAE. It embodies our collective aspiration to bridge the digital divide, accelerate technological innovation, and pave the way for a thriving digital economy that benefits the entire African continent and beyond.”
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Sustainable Data Centre Infrastructure and New East Africa Cloud Region
G42, in collaboration with local partners, will design and build a state-of-the-art data centre campus in Olkaria, run entirely on renewable geothermal energy and designed with state-of-the-art water conservation technology.
The data centre will run on and provide access to Microsoft Azure through a new East Africa Cloud Region, which will become operational within 24 months of signing the definitive agreements. This cloud region will provide customers access to scalable, secure, high-speed cloud and AI services to accelerate cloud adoption and the digital transformation of businesses, customers and partners across Kenya and East Africa.
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“This partnership between two companies and three countries highlights a real opportunity to bring digital technology to the Global South safely and securely,” said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft. “This represents the single largest and broadest digital investment in Kenya’s history and reflects our confidence in the country, the government, its people and the future of East Africa.”
Development Of Swahili/English AI Models
To support national economic growth and development and support Kenya’s unique cultural and linguistic needs, G42 has begun work through its data infrastructure in the United States to train an open-source large-language AI model in Swahili and English. To build on this and help accelerate advanced research in Kenya, Microsoft and G42 will increase their combined collaboration and support for local universities, through the Microsoft Africa Research Institute, the Microsoft AI for Good Lab, the Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi, and select universities from Kenya and East Africa.
Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, added “In partnership with Microsoft, we are excited to work with the Kenyan government to usher in a transformative era for the digital ecosystem in Kenya and the region. By establishing a green data centre and developing AI tailored to the local culture, G42 is committed to fostering sustainable technological growth. This initiative will empower the Kenyan government and communities with robust, secure cloud services and AI capabilities, providing the foundation for a thriving digital economy across the region.”
Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, Nairobi, will use AI technology to work with nonprofit organisations and other partners to help address economic and societal priorities across East Africa. This will include work to enhance food security using advanced AI techniques to make site-specific fertiliser recommendations that increase agricultural productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. It will also include support for The Nature Conservancy (TNC), using AI high-resolution satellite data to monitor and reduce water risks for downstream wildlife and communities in northern Kenya.
In addition, the Kenya Red Cross Society, Kenya Space Agency and National Disaster Management Unit and the AI for Good Lab will work to improve climate resilience by applying AI models to high-resolution satellite data for both disaster preparedness and disaster response. In collaboration with the Smithsonian and Kenya Wildlife Trust, the Lab will use high-resolution satellite imagery and AI to monitor wildlife populations and track livestock expansion near protected areas in East Africa.
East Africa Innovation Lab And Skilling Support
Microsoft and G42 will launch and operate an East African Innovation Lab in Nairobi to help Kenyan and other East African start-ups, entrepreneurs, companies and organisations develop and implement cloud and AI services. The East Africa Innovation Lab will provide design sessions and rapid prototyping using Microsoft tools and technology, with skilling and mentorship support from Microsoft developers at the Africa Development Center, Nairobi.
The partnership will include digital and AI skilling programmes to all government employees, a cybersecurity skilling programme for more than 2,000 people per year, and a business skilling programme for young entrepreneurs ages 18 to 24. The duo will expand on ongoing relationships and work with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Stanbic Kenya Foundation, MPESA Foundation, UNDP Kenya, Young African Leaders Initiative, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and the United States International University-Africa.
Digital Safety, Privacy And Security
Microsoft and G42 will work with the government of Kenya to design and operate the new East Africa cloud region as part of a “trusted data zone” based on global standards to protect digital safety, privacy and security to establish the new data centre as part of it under which data from other countries may be governed by their local laws, even while stored and resident in Kenya. It will support the government’s adoption of a “cloud-first” policy to encourage their move to the cloud.
Microsoft will also provide cybersecurity assistance and support to its customers in Kenya and across East Africa, including through the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) and the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC).