Microsoft has today hosted the largest Artificial Intelligence (AI) conference in Africa in Nairobi. This is part of its global AI Tour, which is happening as AI adoption by Kenyan organisations is on the rise.
The conference brought together developers, innovators, and business leaders from both the public and private sectors alongside Microsoft executives.
Speaking during the event, Phyllis Migwi, the Country Manager for Microsoft Kenya, emphasised the importance of fostering sustainable technological growth as a vital strategy for securing Kenya’s position in the global digital economy.
“Kenya’s tech sector has a great story to tell when it comes to the adoption of advanced digital tools like AI and machine learning. The AI Tour is Microsoft’s way of highlighting these successes to demonstrate AI’s impact and how organisations can deploy this technology within their own operations. It is our aim to showcase AI’s transformative and innovative potential to empower individuals and businesses in Kenya and beyond,” she said.
The forum highlighted that for Kenya to benefit from this ongoing global transformation, businesses and individuals must be empowered to leverage the game-changing potential of AI. Last year, Microsoft announced a new skilling initiative in Kenya, a groundbreaking programme aimed at training 1 million people in AI and cybersecurity. This initiative is part of Microsoft’s commitment to democratise AI and empower individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the digital economy, aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Digital Masterplan.
“As AI continues to revolutionise industries, it is imperative that Kenya equips its workforce with the necessary skills to thrive in this new era. More than 4 million young people across Africa have been upskilled by Microsoft over the last five years through various skilling and employability programmes,” added Ms. Migwi.
As a way of addressing essential infrastructure requirements, Microsoft has been driving increased access to connectivity through its Airband Initiative, which includes Project Mawingu. By the end of 2024, Mawingu’s network was operational in 31 counties in Kenya, covering a population of 9.7 million. Together with Microsoft, Mawingu has provided reliable and affordable internet to schools, health clinics, and small businesses, impacting thousands of health clinic workers, teachers and students, Ms. Migwi said.
“To drive Kenya’s AI transformation, scalable, secure, and high-speed cloud and AI services are essential. Microsoft is partnering with G42 to provide this digital framework, bringing advanced AI solutions and digital infrastructure to the country. This forms part of a larger $1 billion investment by Microsoft and G42 in Kenya’s digital ecosystem,” explained Ms. Migwi.
Also Read: Microsoft Launches AI Skilling Initiative to Train 1 Million Kenyans in AI and Cybersecurity by 2027