Kenya puts tech diplomacy at heart of foreign policy

Kenya has made science, innovation and technology diplomacy central to its foreign policy, as the government pushes for Africa to build its own technological capabilities rather than rely on imports.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said this at the opening of the Africa Technology Leadership Conference (ATLC) in Nairobi.

“Africa must move from adopting technology to building technological power. We cannot build technological sovereignty on imported knowledge alone,” said Mr Mudavadi, who is also the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary.

“Every economy that has led in advanced technology has invested consistently in researchers, universities, laboratories and institutions that move knowledge from discovery into action.”

The two-day conference, held at Eka Hotel on October 22 and 23, drew more than 500 delegates from over 30 countries. They included government officials, diplomats, investors, researchers and technology executives.

Delegates discussed how African countries can align their positions on artificial intelligence (AI), data governance and digital standards, which increasingly shape trade and investment.

They also focused on the gap between research and commercial use. Too many innovations in agriculture, health, energy and manufacturing stall before reaching the market.

“The conversations convened here move beyond aspiration towards rigorous execution and measurable socio-economic impact,” said Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation.

The Africa Technology Leadership Forum (ATLF), which organises the conference, announced three initiatives.

The first is a Continental Innovation Center to help commercialise research and build deep-tech ventures. Firm INVIGENCE is seeking investors, financial institutions and development agencies as partners.

Applications for its first cohort are open to AI researchers, data scientists, developers and start-ups across Africa.

The second, the Sauti Umoja AI Challenge, will fund the development of AI language models built for African languages and dialects. It is being run with the GSMA’s ATLAS Umoja AI initiative.

The third is a programme of policy labs and dialogues running through 2027, leading to a continental conference in Kenya next year.

“As artificial intelligence reshapes global economies, Africa must not be left behind or forced into generic models that overlook our rich linguistic and cultural diversity,” said Dr Kenneth Rotich, chief executive of INVIGENCE.

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