Kenya leads in AI use as global tech summit heads to Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 30 – Kenya is emerging as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, with 97.5 percent of internet users aged 16 and above engaging with AI tools monthly, according to the Digital 2026 Mid-Year Global Update Report.

The data places Kenya ahead of countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, reflecting the country’s strong uptake of digital platforms across sectors including fintech, edutech and healthcare.

Kenya’s Special Envoy for Technology Philip Thigo said the trend positions the country to accelerate AI development and investment.

“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.

Thigo added that AI will reshape industries but also create new opportunities.

“For those who think AI is stealing jobs, that is not the case. We need to stay up-to-date and upskill because while some jobs will be lost, many more will be created,” he said.

Kenya is also set to host AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya 2026 from May 19–21, bringing together global technology firms, policymakers and investors to drive AI innovation and digital economy growth in East Africa.