Kenya is fast cementing its place as a global powerhouse in artificial intelligence adoption, with new data showing that nearly all internet users in the country are now engaging with AI tools.

A report released on April 30, 2026, indicates that 97.5 per cent of internet users aged 16 and above in Kenya interact with AI platforms every month, placing the country ahead of global peers.

The findings position Kenya at the centre of the global digital shift, underlining its rapid uptake of emerging technologies across sectors such as fintech, education, healthcare and mobile money.

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“97.5 per cent of internet users aged 16 and above are engaging with AI platforms each month,” the report states.

The data further shows that Kenya leads the world in AI usage, ahead of countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, both of which recorded usage rates above 93 per cent. Egypt and the Philippines also reported high engagement levels.

Kenya’s strong performance has been attributed to its long-standing leadership in digital innovation, particularly the widespread adoption of mobile money and other technology-driven services.

His Excellency Philip Thigo said the country’s digital maturity makes it well-positioned to lead in AI development.

“We have found that Kenya’s use of AI tools like ChatGPT and OpenAI is surpassing a lot of these first-world countries. This means that as a nation, we should now be looking towards building more data centres so we can handle our own data,” he said.

Despite the progress, Africa still lags behind in AI infrastructure, accounting for only about one per cent of the world’s computing capacity.

Experts warn that without deliberate investment and strong governance, the continent risks remaining a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere, many of which may not reflect local realities.

However, the economic potential remains significant. AI is projected to contribute between $2.9 trillion and $4.8 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, opening up opportunities for countries like Kenya to capitalise on the digital revolution.

Sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education and finance are expected to undergo major transformation as AI adoption accelerates.

Thigo emphasised that fears about job losses linked to AI are misplaced, noting that the technology will also create new opportunities.

“For those who think AI is stealing jobs, that is not the case at all. We need to understand that AI will affect all industries. The key takeaway here is to stay up-to-date, upscaling with every new technological development because for the 75 million jobs that are expected to be lost through AI, there will be 133 million more jobs created,” he said.

He also called for ethical deployment of AI, stressing the need to anchor innovation in human rights, public trust and relevance to local contexts.

Kenya has already taken steps in this direction, having developed a national Artificial Intelligence strategy aimed at guiding the responsible use of the technology.

“Early last year, Kenya created its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy and that paves the way for creation of policies that will protect Kenyans while encouraging the advancement of AI,” Thigo said.

The strategy was developed through consultations involving government agencies, private sector players, academia and civil society, reflecting a broad-based approach to shaping the country’s AI future.

Momentum is expected to build further in May, when Nairobi hosts AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya, East Africa’s largest technology event.

The event, set for May 19 to 21, 2026, will bring together global technology leaders, policymakers, investors and innovators to drive discussions on AI infrastructure, governance and digital economy growth.

Organisers say the forum will help position Kenya as a key hub in Africa’s AI ecosystem, as the continent seeks to secure a share of the projected $16.5 billion AI market by 2030.