As the artificial intelligence (AI) race continues to gather pace across the globe, and with Kenya standing tall among African peers at the heart of the revolution, the country today finds itself at a crossroads with regards to deploying appropriate regulation without stifling innovation.
While the local authorities have developed a national strategy ostensibly to guide the country in harnessing the transformative power of AI, recent pronouncements by top officials have elicited concerns about possible attempts at censorship.
The fresh efforts to clamp down on AI come against the backdrop of elevated moral concerns after a section of Kenya’s youth took to social media channels to publish AI-generated images considered offensive to top government leaders.
But in the quest to crack down on the perceived dissidents, analysts have warned that unchecked and blanketed condemnation of AI usage in the country would serve to negate gains made.
According to legal practitioner Erick Komolo, the challenge falls squarely on policymakers to create regulatory frameworks that protect public interest without stifling innovation, with the balancing act getting more delicate as the country is globally recognised as the continent’s tech hub, commonly dubbed ‘Silicon Savannah’.
“Rather than imposing rigid regulations that might stifle creativity, Kenya’s approach to AI should incorporate flexible and adaptive policies. Regulatory sandboxes – already a successful model in fintech – could be extended to AI development, enabling innovators to test solutions in a controlled environment,” he says.
“For a developing country like Kenya, the stakes in regulating AI are even higher. AI offers the potential to address challenges in key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and education, where access and efficiency are critical to national development goals,” he adds.
His sentiments are echoed by social media analyst Egline Samoei who warns the government against resorting to censorship, but instead provide incentives and support to local AI development.
“We’ve seen how AI is helping organisations enhance efficiency and productivity by automating tasks, improving customer experiences and driving innovations,” observes Ms Samoei.
“Rather than resorting to censorship, the government should focus on developing a clear AI policy framework, collaborating with stakeholders, and providing incentives to support local AI development.”
On her part, however, digital marketing specialist Janet Machuka warns that letting AI run wild without any checks is a recipe for disaster.
Ms Machuka acknowledges the vital role that AI is playing in the modern human day-to-day activities, but cautions that if left unsupervised, it could give rise to a litany of societal ills including privacy violations and misinformation, among others.
“If we think AI will magically solve all our problems without oversight, we’re fooling ourselves. Striking a balance isn’t just important, it is non-negotiable,” she notes.
In her view, Kenya is presented with the chance to lead AI innovations if only it stops swinging between the extremes of blind adoption on one hand, and heavy-handed censorship on the other.
“The government also needs to stop flip-flopping between embracing tech and censoring it. AI isn’t going anywhere. That is why the government should focus on creating solid policies that fuel innovation while safeguarding citizens’ rights,” she says.
“It doesn’t make sense to stifle progress just because you’re scared of what you don’t understand.”
In it draft national AI strategy, the ICT Ministry says it envisions the country as the leading AI hub for model innovation, driving sustainable development, economic growth and social inclusion while positioning itself as an AI research and application leader in Africa.
“At the core of this strategy is Kenya’s aspiration to adopt AI technologies and lead in AI model innovation, creating solutions tailored to its unique needs and those of the African continent,” reads the document.
“This strategy is a proactive and ambitious roadmap to position Kenya as an African leader in AI by creating an action plan for a robust, inclusive, and sustainable AI-driven future.”
According to the 2023 AI readiness Index, Kenya was ranked 84th globally which was the highest in East Africa. The Index measures countries’ ability to implement AI across sectors and the economy.
