Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei and Head of Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic Elizabeth Kelly sign partnership at the margin of UNGA on September 23, 2026 / HANDOUTKenya’s partnership with artificial intelligence company Anthropic will help build local AI expertise and develop technologies tailored to the country’s needs, Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo has said.
Thigo said the partnership would ensure advances in artificial intelligence strengthen Kenyan institutions and contribute to inclusive economic growth.
“This partnership will empower Kenya to build local AI expertise, develop responsible technologies tailored to our needs, and ensure that advances in AI strengthen our institutions and drive inclusive growth,” Thigo said.
The Government of Kenya and Anthropic have signed a Joint Declaration establishing a framework for cooperation on responsible artificial intelligence, research, innovation and the development of practical AI applications that support Kenya’s national priorities.
The agreement was signed on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York by Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr Abraham Korir Sing’Oei on behalf of the Kenyan government and Elizabeth Kelly, Head of Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic.
Ambassador Courtney O’Donnell, Global Impact Lead at Anthropic, and Thigo witnessed the signing.
The partnership will focus on AI skills and capacity building, research, responsible public-sector applications, AI safety and evaluation, as well as locally relevant applications in education and health.
Thigo said the partnership would also advance Kenya’s efforts to harness AI responsibly while protecting its data sovereignty.
“By working with Anthropic, Kenya advances its vision to harness AI responsibly, promoting innovation that respects data sovereignty and addresses our unique social and development priorities,” he said.
Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei, Head of Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic Elizabeth Kelly, Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo and Ambassador Courtney O’Donnell, Global Impact Lead at Anthropic interact on the marins of UNGA in New York on September 23, 2026 / HANDOUT
The agreement provides an umbrella framework for Kenya and Anthropic to develop specific areas of collaboration and creates a pathway for individual ministries, departments and agencies to establish specific programmes and agreements.
Sing’Oei thanked Thigo for driving the strategic partnership.
“Thank you, Ambassador Thigo, for driving this strategic partnership with Anthropic,” Sing’Oei said in a post on X.
The government said any future programme involving access to, processing or use of data will be governed by Kenyan law, including applicable data protection, cybersecurity and public-sector requirements.
The partnership will also seek to strengthen African capacity to participate in the development, evaluation and governance of advanced AI systems through local research and technical and institutional capacity building.
The parties will work to ensure AI systems deployed in Kenya reflect the country’s languages, institutions, development priorities and social context.
The next phase of the cooperation will focus on specific pilot projects, institutional partnerships, research initiatives and capacity-building programmes in collaboration with relevant government institutions.
