Nairobi, 28th November 2025 — Samsung Electronics East Africa and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have officially launched the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), marking a major step toward closing Kenya’s rapidly widening digital and AI skills gap.

The new partnership, sealed through an MoU at the university, is designed to prepare Kenyan learners for the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Each year, 80 students will train in advanced Artificial Intelligence, Coding, and Programming—graduating not just with certificates, but with hands-on experience and a portfolio of real, industry-level projects.

Samsung Electronics East Africa President, Richard Lee, said the collaboration reflects Samsung’s long-term vision for Kenya’s digital future.
“As Samsung grows in East Africa, our success must uplift the communities around us. The Samsung Innovation Campus is an investment in the brilliant minds who will drive Kenya’s digital economy. We are proud to work with JKUAT to open doors for the next generation of innovators,” he said.

A response to Kenya’s digital skills reality

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Recent data shows how urgent the intervention is. According to the Kenya Housing Survey 2023/24, only 23.8% of Kenyan households use the internet, and just 10.7% have access to a computer. Kenya also scored 0.43 on the Digital Divide Index, signalling a major gap between the skills Kenyans currently have and those required in today’s digital world.

AI knowledge remains especially low—only 32% of Kenyans are even aware of Artificial Intelligence. Yet globally, AI is expected to add $13 trillion to the economy by 2030 and transform hundreds of millions of jobs. Demand for AI-related skills has risen sevenfold in just two years.

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The message is clear: without digital training, young people will be locked out of the most lucrative careers of the future.

A global CSR initiative tailored for Kenya

The Samsung Innovation Campus is part of Samsung’s global CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People.” SIC operates in several countries, giving young people practical training in AI, IoT, Big Data, and other emerging fields. In Kenya, the program will be sustained through a Training of Trainers model, allowing JKUAT staff to deliver Samsung’s world-class curriculum long-term.

For JKUAT—known for its strong STEM foundation and innovation culture—the partnership fits squarely within its mission of producing job-ready graduates.

JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, welcomed the initiative:
“Partnering with a global leader like Samsung helps us bridge the gap between what students learn in class and what the industry actually demands. Our students will gain real exposure to AI and programming, equipping them for the future of work,” she said.

Building Kenya’s future innovators

The collaboration will tap into JKUAT’s innovation hub, JHUB Africa, turning student ideas, research, and prototypes into viable solutions and even start-ups. Students will interact with industry partners, researchers, and mentors—creating a pipeline of talent ready for Kenya’s digital economy.

Crucially, the program is built with inclusivity in mind. Half of all beneficiaries will be women, a deliberate step toward reducing the persistent gender gap in tech and ensuring that young women, especially from underrepresented backgrounds, have equal access to the skills of tomorrow.