- The global Microsoft AI Tour had a stop in Nairobi, Kenya
- The AI Tour brought together business leaders, technical practitioners, and AI enthusiasts to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence
- The event highlighted groundbreaking AI applications transforming industries and driving economic growth across Kenya
12 March 2025, Nairobi, Kenya Microsoft’s highly anticipated AI Tour event took place in Nairobi today, showcasing the next generation of AI advancements and their transformative potential across every industry and sector.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most powerful disruptive technologies in decades, and its use and implementation in daily ways of working has the power to change the business landscape globally and across Africa. However, in order to benefit from the global transformation currently taking place, businesses and people across Kenya must be empowered to harness the game-changing potential of AI. The opportunity is immense – analysts predict the technology could expand Africa’s economy by 50 percent of current GDP by 2030 if the continent could capture just 10 percent of the global AI market.
By harnessing the power of AI, Microsoft aims to drive growth across industries to solve pressing challenges in Kenya and beyond. AI usage is gaining momentum globally as companies deploy innovative new solutions and find new ways to increase productivity and creativity using AI tools in the workplace. And with good reason – a recent IDC study shows a staggering $3.50 return for every $1 invested into AI.
Kenya’s ‘Silicon Savannah’ is leading the way on AI innovation
The AI tour arrives at a pivotal moment, as Kenyan organisations continue to accelerate AI adoption across industries. The event brought together developers, innovators, and business leaders from key organisations in both the public and private sectors, as well as Microsoft executives.
“Kenya’s tech sector has a great story to tell when it comes to the adoption of advanced digital tools like AI and machine learning. The AI Tour is Microsoft’s way of highlighting these successes to demonstrate AI’s impact and how organisations can deploy this technology within their own operations. It is our aim to showcase AI’s transformative and innovative potential to empower individuals and businesses in Kenya and beyond,” says Phyllis Migwi, Country Manager, Microsoft Kenya.
Fostering sustainable technological growth is crucial to secure Kenya’s role in the global digital economy. To help address essential infrastructure requirements, Microsoft has been driving increased access to connectivity through its Airband Initiative. Project Mawingu is one such example. By the end of 2024, Mawingu’s network was operational in 31 counties in Kenya, covering a population of 9.7 million. Together with Microsoft, Mawingu has provided reliable and affordable internet to schools, health clinics, and small businesses, impacting thousands of health clinic workers, teachers and students.
To drive Kenya’s AI transformation, scalable, secure, and high-speed cloud and AI services are essential. Microsoft has partnered with G42, who are also the marquee sponsor of the AI tour, to provide this digital framework, bringing advanced AI solutions and digital infrastructure to the country. This forms part of a larger $1 billion investment by Microsoft and G42 in Kenya’s digital ecosystem.
Significant strides have been made in bolstering Kenya’s AI capabilities. Already, many Kenyan startups and companies have made a powerful impact across East Africa and the continent with innovative home-grown solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. From democratising access to healthcare to optimising supply chains in retail and enhancing customer experiences in banking, the tangible benefits of AI are already transforming industries across Kenya.
Kenya is probably best known for its innovation in the financial services space. M-KOPA is providing digital financial services to underbanked consumers by combining digital micropayments with IoT technology, while fintech startup Pesawise uses AI to support various payment methods, including card, bank, and mobile money, enabling businesses to manage finances efficiently. Traditional banks are benefitting too. Kenya’s NCBA Bank has embraced AI to enhance its customer service offering and increase employee productivity using Microsoft Copilot.
Healthcare is also receiving a massive boost from AI technology. Startup Snark Health is helping provide affordable healthcare to SMEs and health centres using an app, and Zendawa is transforming pharmaceutical operations in East Africa by providing online access to medicines and financing solutions for small pharmacies. The Microsoft AI for Good Lab is supporting healthcare and agritech initiatives, working with Amref Health Africa to more accurately predict anticipated risk of famine and malnutrition among children under five in Kenya.
In agriculture, Microsoft’s collaboration with the Kenyan National Agriculture Platform, IFC, and AGRA has led to the creation of FarmVibes.Bot. The platform provides farmers with access to services and information related to planting and pest control, aiming to improve productivity and offer insights on earning from carbon credits. So far, it has reached over half a million farmers. With the platform now available open source through GitHub, it is even more accessible. Additionally, through its AI for Good initiative, Microsoft is working with Murang’a County in Kenya to use satellite imagery and machine learning for agricultural planning. This project aims to aid smallholder farmers and local communities by offering data-driven insights for better crop cultivation and resource allocation. Meanwhile, agritech startup, Taimba, is revolutionising the agricultural supply chain by connecting rural smallholder farmers directly to urban retailers.
“Harnessing the transformative power of AI is now a tangible reality for organisations seeking to achieve exponential growth and optimisation. It is exhilarating to see this incredible technology being implemented in innovative and creative ways by companies and startups across East Africa,” comments Migwi.
Building the skills of a new generation of talent to support AI innovation
As AI continues to revolutionise industries, it is imperative that Kenya equips its workforce with the necessary skills to thrive in this new era. More than 4 million young people across Africa have been upskilled by Microsoft over the last five years through various skilling and employability programmes.
In 2024, the company announced a new skilling initiative in Kenya, a groundbreaking programme aimed at training 1 million people in AI and cybersecurity. This initiative is part of Microsoft’s commitment to democratise AI and empower individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the digital economy, aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Digital Masterplan.
The AI National Skilling Initiative is part of a broader investment by Microsoft and its partners to drive skills development in Kenya. At the same time, the Government of Kenya, UNDP, the Public Service Commission and Microsoft have co-developed a Centre of Competence that’s poised to transform public service delivery.
Microsoft also continues to drive innovation and skills development through its Africa Development Centre in Nairobi. This Centre is part of Microsoft’s effort to boost its presence in Africa and support digital transformation.
The ADC’s Cybershujaa programme, for instance, aims to train 100 young people in cybersecurity, creating a more secure digital environment. In partnership with Serianu Limited, the Kenya Bankers Association, and USIU-Africa, the programme combines AI and machine learning with hands-on skills, helping to address the cybersecurity talent gap. To date, 29 participants have found jobs as analysts, engineers, and security specialists.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Research Africa, also part of the ADC, works on various initiatives to drive AI adoption in Africa. One project, “Language Model Adaptations,” aims to improve agricultural practices in Kenya with culturally sensitive AI copilots. By adapting models for tasks like speech recognition and translation using Swahili and Kikuyu datasets, the project helps farmers enhance productivity and sustainability.
“These investments showcase Microsoft’s commitment to advancing digital skills and AI capabilities in Kenya and across East Africa. We believe that by democratising access to AI education, and in turn creating more opportunities for organisations and individuals to explore what AI can do, we are creating a more equitable digital future for all,” adds Migwi.
Main image caption: Phyllis Migwi, Country Manager, Microsoft Kenya, delivers the keynote address during the AI Tour stop in Nairobi.