This collaboration between academic institutions and researchers from Kenya and the UK aims to establish a robust framework for AI research and innovation that will guide the creation of the Kenya Emerging Tech Institute and Action Lab.
Kenya has been selected to pilot a new UK programme on emerging technologies that will pave way for mutual partnership between the two countries.
The initiative is expected to create a framework for collaboration on AI between academic institutions and researchers in the two countries; and also develop a road map to guide the establishment of the Kenya Emerging Tech Institute and Action Lab.
This follows the creation of the UK Technical Centre of Expertise (Tech CoE) which sets out UK’s ambitions for driving the future of innovation and technology, which is guided by four principles - to be open, responsible, secure and resilient.
ACTS and the Alan Turing Institute (ATI) in conjunction with UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) organized a four day visit of Kenyan delegates - 1st week of June, 2024 - to participate in learning and knowledge exchange activities around emerging tech and AI governance in the UK.
The itinerary was deliberately structured to allow for co- creation of an impactful partnership and learning agenda. In this regard, the Kenyan delegates met with representatives from a range of partner institutions in the UK – government departments, academic & research institutions, start-ups as well as civil Society organizations (CSOs).
The visit was structured around a series of workshops and joint activities that allow representatives from UK and Kenya to interact with a view to sharing, knowledge for the purposes of sowing seeds for future collaboration and partnerships.
The Kenya-US pilot initiative seeks to partner with Kenya in a way that can elevate its voice and influence on the global stage with regard to AI governance and safety, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that African voices are being heard and that the concerns and contributions of the Global South are being taken into consideration.
It is also expected that the two countries will jointly work on the development of AI Standards and a definition of AI Safety that is appropriate to the national and regional context and considers broader ethical issues and values around equity and inclusion.
Hon. John Kiarie, Chair, Kenya Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation (left) and Senator Crystal Asige (second right) joined the ACTS team and other delegates who visited the UK. ACTS was represented by Dr Winston Ojenge (far right) and Sam Wanjau (Second left).
Finally, it will support the development of Kenya’s Emerging Tech Institute and Action Lab by providing input towards a robust and implementable road map, governance framework, structure and strategy and possible twinning and partnerships with UK institutions such as the AI Safety Institute and Alan Turing Institute.
Several activities have been lined up to consolidate and actualize the learning from the visit that are expected to solidify UK’s commitment to equitable partnerships and core principles on science, technology and innovation (in particular a commitment to responsible, safe, secure and inclusive AI and Emerging Tech.
After the visit, the two countries will work on creating linkages between different institutions and agencies, launch new AI-related research partnerships and collaborations between UK and Kenyan stakeholders to ensure implementation and ownership of the outcomes.
