Kenya Explores OpenAI Academy for East Africa

Kenya is exploring a partnership with OpenAI that could see Nairobi host the first OpenAI Academy in East Africa. President William Ruto revealed the discussions following a meeting with OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in France, where the two discussed opportunities for collaboration in artificial intelligence and digital skills development. If established, the academy could provide training and learning opportunities for students, educators, developers, and entrepreneurs, helping expand access to AI knowledge and technical skills across the region.

In a statement following the meeting, President William Ruto said the discussions focused on establishing Nairobi as the home of the first OpenAI Academy initiative in Eastern Africa. He said the proposed partnership could expand AI education and digital skills training for students, educators, developers, and entrepreneurs while helping young people gain access to opportunities created by emerging technologies. No formal agreement has been announced and discussions remain at an early stage.

Kenya’s AI Ambitions

The proposal aligns with Kenya’s broader efforts to position itself as a leading destination for artificial intelligence investment and innovation. In 2025, the country launched its National AI Strategy 2025–2030, outlining plans to support AI research, strengthen digital infrastructure, improve data ecosystems, and establish governance frameworks for responsible AI adoption.

Kenya has also become more active in international discussions on the use, regulation, and development of artificial intelligence, participating in initiatives focused on how the technology is deployed and managed.

The discussions with OpenAI form part of Kenya’s broader efforts to expand AI training, research opportunities, and technology investment. Over the past year, the government has engaged several major technology companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, Meta, NVIDIA, Mistral AI, and Cohere, while exploring ways to expand technical skills, support local developers, and create opportunities for startups working with AI tools.

The country has also gained attention for high levels of AI adoption, with recent studies ranking Kenya among the world’s most active users of AI-powered tools.

Potential Benefits for the Region

If the academy is established, it would become only the second OpenAI Academy initiative on the African continent, following the programme currently hosted through the University of Lagos in Nigeria. The facility could provide new opportunities for talent development, research, entrepreneurship, and AI skills training across East Africa while strengthening links between global AI companies and the region’s growing technology sector.