Kenya is on the brink of a Generative AI (GenAI) transformation, with business leaders expressing optimism about the technology’s potential to reshape industries and drive innovation. At the NTT DATA Clients Innovation Day in Nairobi, Chris Wiggett, Head of Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Analytics at NTT DATA in the Middle East and Africa, emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to realizing GenAI’s potential in Kenya and the East African region. However, to fully capitalize on this groundbreaking technology, Kenya must address challenges such as legacy infrastructure, skills shortages, and regulatory gaps.

Kenya’s digital economy is on a transformative trajectory, with recent findings from The Digital Opportunity of Kenya report highlighting the nation’s progress as a digital leader in Africa. Conducted by Public First and supported by the Ministry of ICT, Google, and other key stakeholders, the report underscores how technology is driving economic value and shaping the future of the nation.

Kenya is positioning itself as a significant player in Africa’s burgeoning smartphone manufacturing industry, having already produced over 2.5 million smartphones domestically. This milestone highlights the country’s growing capabilities in local smartphone assembly and its crucial role in advancing Africa’s digital economy. At the recent Smartphone for Africa Summit in Nairobi, Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of the Kenya ICT Authority, shared insights into the country’s achievements and its pivotal role in the continent’s digital transformation.