Also known as: Amb Philip Thigo · Ambassador Thigo · H.E. Ambassador Philip Thigo · Ambassador Philip Thigo · Special Envoy on Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo · Special Envoy on Technology Philip Thigo · Amb. Philip Thigo
Kenya's Special Envoy on Technology overseeing AI policy, digital infrastructure, and technology partnerships including UN forums and military AI summits.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 17 — Kenya must invest in talent, digital infrastructure and skills to maximise the economic opportunities presented by artificial intelligence while preparing workers for job displacement, Special Envoy on Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo has said. …
… Philip Thigo (second from left) in Silicon Valley engaging Anthropic leadership, including CEO Dario Amodei (third from left) Audio By Vocalize Kenya is seeking to deepen partnerships with leading global artificial intelligence, AI, companies as part of a broader strategy to harn …
… The Principal Secretary also acknowledged the role played by Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Philip Thigo, and Broadcasting Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke in advancing preparations for the global event. …
… Previous editions of the summit have been hosted in The Hague, Seoul and Spain's A Coruña.Speaking during the announcement, Ambassador Philip Thigo said the summit would seek to move discussions beyond broad ethical principles and focus on practical actions. …
Kenya named first African host of global military AI Summit in 2027 By Willy Lusige June 19, 2026 07:37 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Ambassador Philip Thigo, speaks during the AI, Security and Ethics Con …
… Sing’oei, alongside Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Steve Isaboke, and Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo. …
… Special Envoy on Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo said the festival comes at a critical time as countries work toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with only four years remaining before the 2030 deadline. …
… Special Envoy on Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo said the festival comes at a critical time as countries work toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). …
… Kenya’s Special Technology Envoy, Philip Thigo, dismissed reports suggesting the project had stalled, arguing that the President’s comments were meant to highlight the urgency of expanding the country’s energy infrastructure rather than signalling cancellation. …
An analysis by the Overseas Development Institute estimates that about 2.5 million Kenyans work in occupations with high or significant exposure to generative AI, including clerical workers, secretaries, and financial advisers. The concern is that AI could eliminate entry-level positions that traditionally provide a pathway into Kenya's formal economy, potentially widening the gap between informal work and a shrinking white-collar job market.
An analysis by the Overseas Development Institute estimates that about 2.5 million Kenyans work in occupations with high or significant exposure to generative AI, including clerical workers, secretaries, and financial advisers. The concern is that AI could eliminate entry-level positions that traditionally provide a pathway into Kenya's formal economy, potentially widening the gap between informal work and a shrinking white-collar job market.
Special Envoy on Technology Philip Thigo said Kenya must invest in talent, digital infrastructure and skills to maximise AI's economic opportunities while preparing workers for job displacement. Thigo noted Kenya ranks first for recent AI use, with 97.5 per cent of respondents aged 16 and above reporting AI tool use in the previous month, but warned that digital adoption must translate into economically valuable products and services.
Kenya's Special Envoy on Technology held discussions with Anthropic executives in Silicon Valley to explore responsible deployment of frontier AI technologies through partnerships involving government, private sector, and Kenya's innovation ecosystem, with opportunities to extend the model across Africa.
Kenya has launched preparations to host the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2026 in Nairobi from December 14 to 18, marking the first meeting since the forum was granted permanent status by the UN General Assembly. The government expects the event to bring together global leaders, policymakers, technology experts, civil society representatives, and private sector stakeholders to shape the future of internet governance.
Kenya has secured hosting rights for the fourth Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) Summit, to be held in Nairobi in April 2027, making it the first African country and first Global South nation to host the meeting. The two-day summit will bring together governments, military leaders, technology firms, researchers and policy experts to discuss practical safeguards around AI use in defence systems.
Kenya has been selected to host the fourth Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) Summit in April 2027, becoming the first African nation to stage this high-level global conference on artificial intelligence in defence and security. The summit brings together governments, defence institutions, technology firms, academia and international organizations to discuss responsible use of AI in military operations and global governance frameworks for emerging defence technologies.
Kenya has commenced national preparations to host the 2026 United Nations Internet Governance Forum, scheduled for December 2026. The forum brings together governments, the private sector, civil society, and the technical community to discuss key digital governance issues including artificial intelligence, data sovereignty, and internet access.
Kenya is hosting the first-ever African edition of the Global Data Festival alongside the third Kenya Space Expo and Conference in Nairobi, bringing together over 1,000 participants from more than 60 countries to explore how data and space technologies can accelerate sustainable development. The event highlights the importance of disaggregated data in revealing inequalities and informing national policies, including Kenya's Time Use Survey which informed the Kenya National Care Policy 2024.
Kenya is hosting the first African edition of the Global Data Festival, bringing together over 1,000 participants from more than 60 countries to explore how data and space technologies can drive sustainable development. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Director General emphasized the role of data in evidence-based decision-making and inclusive development.
Kenya's $1 billion Microsoft-G42 data centre project in Olkaria, announced during President Ruto's 2024 US State Visit, is now in limbo as questions arise over whether the country's electricity generation capacity can support the mega project. President Ruto has publicly admitted the country's current power capacity may be inadequate for the facility.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja committed to long-term support for AI EVERYTHING KENYA X GITEX KENYA, pledging that Nairobi will become a permanent participant in the global GITEX network, one of the world's largest tech and AI event platforms.
Kenya has been selected to host the 2026 United Nations Internet Governance Forum in December. Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr Abraham Korir Sing'oei has been appointed by the UN Secretary-General as the Host Country Co-Chair of the forum's Multistakeholder Advisory Group.
Kenya launched the inaugural AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya conference in Nairobi, described as East Africa's largest AI and technology event, bringing together government officials, investors, and technology firms. Leaders called for increased investment in digital infrastructure, local AI development, and regional cooperation to help Africa compete globally in artificial intelligence.
According to McKinsey, AI could add 2.6 per cent to Kenya's annual GDP by 2030, driven largely by the financial sector. Banks and fintech companies are deploying AI systems for fraud detection, credit scoring, customer service automation, and expanded lending access to underserved populations.
Taiwanese tech company ASUS will unveil its portfolio of AI-enabled personal computers at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) summit in Kenya (May 19–21), its first time being held in the country. The company sees Kenya as a critical market for its African expansion and will showcase products including the ExpertBook series and workstation PCs that enable on-device AI processing.
Kenya has seen a sharp rise in AI-focused startups over the past five years that target challenges across agriculture, healthcare, fintech, logistics, and climate resilience, driven by a growing pool of skilled developers, data scientists, and AI researchers supported by expanded access to AI education.
Kenya's Special Tech Envoy Amb Philip Thigo has dismissed reports that the Ksh.129 billion Microsoft-G42 data centre project has been suspended, clarifying that President Ruto's remarks on energy capacity were not a halt signal but an acknowledgement of the need to expand electricity generation to support the facility.
According to the Digital 2026 Mid-Year Global Update Report, Kenya leads the world in AI tool usage, with 97.5 per cent of internet users aged 16 and above engaging with AI platforms monthly. Kenya's Special Envoy for Technology Philip Thigo said the country should invest in building more data centres to handle its own data, as Africa represents only about one per cent of the world's AI computing capacity.