The adoption of robust and scalable Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure tailored to Africa’s unique context will unlock economic growth and create vast opportunities across the continent and beyond, stakeholders declared at the official opening of the Nairobi AI Forum 2026.
The two-day Forum, themed “Accelerating Adoption & Impact: Building Green Scalable AI Infrastructure with Africa’s Innovators,” was officially opened in Nairobi by the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, H.E. Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, E.G.H.
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In his address, CS Kabogo underscored Kenya’s strong commitment to leveraging AI and digital technologies as key drivers of national development. He stated that the country highly prioritises AI as central to advancing digital transformation, in alignment with Kenya’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, the government’s core priorities include promoting inclusive and sustainable AI development, driving digital skilling to transform public service delivery, and fostering entrepreneurship within the digital economy. He emphasised that strategic AI adoption will not only strengthen Kenya’s innovation ecosystem but also position the country as a continental leader in emerging technologies.
The Nairobi AI Forum 2026 aims to accelerate cross-border collaboration and establish innovative financing models that support the development of green and sovereign AI infrastructure. The initiative seeks to convert Africa’s resource advantages into new industrial economies capable of supporting inclusive human development.
Participants at the Forum are examining how AI infrastructure development, financing mechanisms, and adoption strategies can be integrated by connecting infrastructure builders, innovators, industry leaders, and governments. The objective is to accelerate deployment and maximise AI’s impact across priority sectors.
Co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Italy in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Forum has convened private sector leaders, innovators, financiers, and policymakers from across Africa, Italy, the European Union, and the G7.
Dignitaries present at the opening ceremony included Italy’s Minister of University and Research, Senator Anna Maria Bernini; the Ambassador of Italy to Kenya, H.E. Vincenzo Del Monaco; the Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to Kenya, Mr. Ondrej Simek; Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo; as well as regional and global industry players.
The Forum signals a growing recognition of AI infrastructure as a strategic asset for Africa’s economic transformation, with Kenya positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to build green, scalable, and sovereign AI systems capable of driving sustainable growth across the continent.
