Kenya aims to be Africa’s top software and AI powerhouse
Kenya plans to establish itself as the continent’s premier software development center through a national technology strategy announced at the Software and AI Summit. Principal Secretary Dr. Eng. John K. Tanui from the State Department for ICT and Digital Economy presented the Code Nation vision, which seeks to transform the country into a regional technology powerhouse by leveraging infrastructure expansion and workforce training.
The government intends to extend fiber optic cables to 37,153 kilometers by 2027, aiming for 99 percent population coverage. Kenya’s digital platform already handles more than 500 billion annual transactions. Central to the plan is Skill-Up Kenya, which targets training one million technology professionals initially and 20 million globally competitive workers over time in fields like software engineering, cybersecurity and data science. Four strategic pillars support the initiative: Digital Catalysts to assist startups and universities, Connecting Capital to link businesses with investors, Talent Development for ethical professionals, and Data and Governance emphasizing open-source platforms and responsible artificial intelligence.
The government projects over $100 billion in technology investment across Africa. Officials co-hosted the summit with Moi University and plan to create a Digital Economy Hub in Nairobi with regional centers connecting local innovation networks to international partners.
