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Record STMT-W533515Soft law

Kenya Artificial Intelligence and Other Emerging Technologies Policy

KENYA ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND OTHER EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES POLICY

Strategy State lawAfrica · KEdraft

The Draft Kenya AI and Other Emerging Technologies Policy establishes a unified national framework to govern the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across Kenya. Aligned with Vision 2030 and national development priorities, the policy addresses critical challenges such as fragmented governance, data ecosystem gaps, and infrastructure constraints. It outlines strategic pillars encompassing research and innovation, sectoral applications, capacity building, environmental sustainability, and strategic autonomy.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

State Department for ICT and the Digital EconomyGovernment (executive) · KE
Lead issuer
Legal forceSoft law
Under whose authorityState law
Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

National governmentRegulatorsPublic sector bodiesCompaniesAI developers and providersResearchers and academics

Policymakers, regulators, public sector bodies, researchers, and industry actors engaged in the governance, development, and deployment of AI in Kenya.

Sectors
Cross-sectorTelecommunications and digital services · Information and communication technology

What the document contains

What's covered

The policy covers research and innovation ecosystem development, sectoral applications, capacity building, environmental sustainability, governance and regulatory frameworks, data ecosystem management, ethics and safety, infrastructure readiness, and sovereignty. It provides mechanisms for risk classification, public procurement safeguards, data standards, and monitoring and evaluation.

What's missing

Detailed binding statutory penalties and exhaustive operational technical specifications are deferred to subsequent subsidiary legislation and implementing regulations.

Key takeaways
  • The policy establishes a comprehensive national framework for governing AI and other emerging technologies in Kenya.
  • It emphasizes a risk-based and lifecycle-oriented approach to balance innovation with fundamental rights and security safeguards.
  • The framework addresses key systemic gaps including limited compute infrastructure, data fragmentation, and skills shortages.
  • It promotes domestic value creation, digital sovereignty, and the use of Kenya's renewable energy profile for green compute initiatives.
  • Implementation relies on a hybrid coordination model involving a National AI and Emerging Technologies Council and multi-agency execution.
Principles it states
Human Rights-Based ApproachHuman-Centeredness and Meaningful Human ControlProtection of Human AgencyRisk-Based and Proportionate RegulationSafety, Security, and RobustnessTransparency, Accountability, and the Right to KnowInclusion and EquitySustainabilityInnovation Enablement and a Competitive EcosystemPublic Value and State CapabilityPublic Participation and Democratic GovernanceSovereignty and Strategic AutonomyLocal Value CreationCommunity and Mutual ResponsibilityInteroperability and Open StandardsDo No Harm
Outline
· FOREWORD
· ABBREVIATIONS
· EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
· CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
· CHAPTER 2: SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
· CHAPTER 3: POLICY STATEMENTS
· CHAPTER 4: IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK
· CHAPTER 5: MONITORING, EVALUATION, REPORTING AND LEARNING
· ANNEXES
IssuedJuly 2026
Length68,963 words
FormatNot recorded
Scopenational

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Fairness

4/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

mitigating risks of discrimination, exclusion, unlawful surveillance, and harm. The Policy promotes fairness, transparency, accountability

Chapter 1.6

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Dignity

4/5

Respect for the inherent worth of persons

AI and other Emerging Technologies shall be governed in a manner that protects fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya (2010).

Chapter 1.6

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Oversight

4/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

Humans shall retain meaningful control over systems that affect individual rights, safety, or access to essential services.

Chapter 1.6

screening score · 2026-10-23

Privacy

4/5

Protection of personal data and private life

The Constitution of Kenya (2010) provides the legal and normative foundation for this Policy. Rights relating to dignity, equality, privacy

Chapter 1.3.4

screening score · 2026-10-23

Transparency

4/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

AI and other Emerging Technologies systems that materially affect individuals or public services shall be subject to transparency, explainability, and auditability requirements.

Chapter 1.6

screening score · 2026-10-23

Enforcement

4/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

Establish accountability, compliance, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure responsible development and use of AI and other Emerging Technologies.

Chapter 3.5

screening score · 2026-10-23

Impact Assessment

4/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

Require public institutions to conduct AI and other Emerging Technologies impact assessments before deploying high-risk AI and other Emerging Technologies systems

Chapter 3.5.6

screening score · 2026-10-23

Topics

artificial_intelligence emerging_technologies digital_governance data_ecosystem infrastructure