Kenya has announced an ambitious plan to position itself as Africa's leading "Code Nation," signaling a bold leap toward becoming a continental hub for software and artificial intelligence AI development. The announcement was made during the Software and AI Summit, where Dr. Eng. John K. Tanui, Principal Secretary of the State Department for ICT and Digital Economy, outlined the nation's strategic vision to harness digital infrastructure, innovation, and talent for inclusive growth.
The initiative builds on Kenya's expanding digital infrastructure and growing investment in technology-driven development. The government aims to extend the country's fiber optic network to 37,153 kilometers by 2027, with the goal of connecting 99 of the population. This infrastructure underpins Kenya's digital services platform, which already processes over 500 billion transactions annually, offering a strong foundation for a thriving digital economy.
A key component of the "Code Nation" plan is the Skill-Up Kenya program, designed to bridge the digital skills gap and nurture a highly skilled workforce. The initiative targets training 1 million skilled professionals in the short term and 20 million globally competitive individuals in the long term, focusing on key fields such as software engineering, cybersecurity, and data science. According to the plan, Kenya's success in the digital economy will depend not only on technology and infrastructure but also on cultivating a mindset that values innovation, creativity, and homegrown solutions.
