• KEPSA and Microsoft launched Kenya AI Skilling Alliance (KAISA) to coordinate AI skills development, innovation, and policy collaboration.

• Kenya ranks 4th in Africa for AI talent readiness with score of 49.70, behind South Africa, Tunisia, and Egypt.

• AI could unlock $136 billion in economic value by 2030 across Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and Microsoft have launched the Kenya Artificial Intelligence Skilling Alliance (KAISA). The national platform aims to coordinate AI skills development, innovation, and policy collaboration across key economic sectors, according to an October 29 announcement.

The launch brings together government, private sector, academia, and development partners to strengthen Kenya's competitiveness in the fast-growing global AI market. The initiative aims to position Kenya as Africa's AI talent hub through deliberate investment in skills development from basic digital literacy to advanced expertise.

"KAISA is focused on inclusivity, job creation, and social transformation. Africa's youthful population remains our greatest advantage," said Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Deputy CEO at KEPSA and Global Director for Youth and Jobs. "Through coordinated efforts, the Alliance will connect innovation with opportunity, enhance training quality, and scale successful models that empower communities to participate meaningfully in the global digital economy."

The platform builds on ongoing digital skilling programs that have already trained thousands of young Kenyans and small businesses in emerging technologies. Microsoft and KEPSA will expand collaboration to include curriculum development, innovation incubation, and research partnerships across agriculture, health, education, finance, and manufacturing.

KAISA's roadmap includes establishing sector-based working groups to guide AI adoption in key industries, rolling out national skilling programs, and creating an AI repository and innovation hub showcasing local use cases. The platform will promote research partnerships, policy engagement, and ethical governance frameworks.

Kenya ranks 4th in Africa for AI talent readiness with a score of 49.70, according to 2025 research by digital strategy firm Qhala and Qubit Hub. This makes the country well-positioned to scale AI adoption and innovation. According to Access Partnership, AI could unlock $136 billion in economic value by 2030 across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. KAISA positions Kenya to capture a significant share of this opportunity by aligning talent development with national innovation priorities.

Hikmatu Bilali