Kenya Forges AI Partnership with Anthropic to Boost Local Capacity and Responsible Development

Kenya has signed a significant cooperation agreement with the US-based AI company Anthropic. This partnership aims to enhance Kenya's domestic capabilities in artificial intelligence, covering critical areas such as AI skills development, research, public-sector application, and safety protocols. The agreement was formalized in New York during the UN General Assembly.

The collaboration will see Kenyan institutions working with Anthropic to develop and test AI applications, strengthen technical expertise, and build research capacity. A key focus will also be on assessing the safety and performance of advanced AI systems, with potential applications explored in sectors like education and healthcare. This initiative aligns with Kenya's broader AI Strategy 2025-2030, which prioritizes infrastructure, data, research, skills, and governance.

This partnership is particularly timely as Kenya seeks to transition from merely adopting foreign-developed AI products to cultivating its own expertise in AI development, evaluation, and governance. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation, without direct investment or acquisition, emphasizing the transfer of knowledge and the development of local technical capacity. It also underscores Kenya's commitment to responsible AI, especially given recent incidents where Anthropic identified and disrupted malicious AI activities, including political content generation ahead of Kenya's 2027 general election.