Kenya has emerged as a leading nation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption, ranking third in the world according to the latest data by AITools.
AITools, a platform dedicated to curating a comprehensive and up-to-date directory of AI tools globally, reported a sharp increase in AI-related activity across several countries. The platform tracks visits to AI tool websites and offers insights into global usage patterns, serving as a barometer for gauging AI adoption trends worldwide.
According to the data, in February 2025 alone, Kenya generated an impressive 549.03 million visits to AI tools, accounting for 4.56% of the total global AI traffic. This makes Kenya the highest-ranking African country in AI adoption and positions it just behind tech powerhouses like the United States and India. Kenya’s numbers are especially remarkable considering its population size and economic scale compared to the top two countries.
The United States remains the undisputed leader, generating 1.94 billion visits—the highest share globally at 16.09% of total AI visits. ChatGPT alone captured nearly 40% of all U.S. AI tool usage, reinforcing its dominance in the Western market.
China made the biggest leap, rising from position 19 to 5 in just one month. It added +256.72 million visits in February—the highest MoM growth of any country.
Kenya’s rapid rise in the AI landscape
It’s not surprising to see Kenya ranking this high. This achievement highlights Kenya’s dynamic AI ecosystem, characterised by robust government support, a thriving startup culture, and strategic investments in digital infrastructure.
The country’s National AI Strategy 2025–2030 launched recently, for example, outlines a vision to position Kenya as a hub for ethical and inclusive AI innovation, focusing on sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and public administration. The Strategy serves as a framework to guide AI adoption and governance in Kenya and is spearheaded by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy.
With Nairobi’s “Silicon Savannah” at the forefront, Kenya continues to integrate AI technologies into various industries, driving sustainable development and economic growth across the region.
The strategy aims to utilize AI to attain sustainable development, digital transformation, and the creation of new economic opportunities. The Kenyan government intends to train businesses, startups, and public institutions to use AI as a tool for real-world problem-solving through AI research, regulatory frameworks, and capacity building.
A multi-stakeholder approach
According to John Syekei, Partner and Head of IP and Technology at Bowmans Kenya, the process of developing the Strategy began as part of a broader push to harness emerging technologies for economic and social transformation.
Odongo notes that the goal of the Strategy was to create a roadmap for responsible AI development while ensuring alignment with Kenya’s broader digital economy agenda.
“The Strategy aims to address gaps in AI regulation, investment and skills while fostering innovation in key sectors,” he says.
The strategy outlines critical pillars such as policy and regulatory frameworks for safe and ethical AI deployment, capacity building and workforce development, including AI training for startups, SMEs, and public institutions in the country as well as investment incentives to attract local and foreign AI innovation
It has also laid its support for the promotion of open data and research collaboration to support AI R&D as well as infrastructure readiness, particularly cloud computing and data centres to support large-scale AI applications.
Impact and next steps for Kenya’s AI ecosystem
Ariana Issaias, Partner at Bowmans in Kenya, notes that the launch of the AI Strategy signals new opportunities for technology companies, startups, and investors in Kenya. ‘The proposed reforms could unlock funding for AI innovation, create new jobs, and attract global AI firms to set up operations in Kenya,”
Other African countries that have developed similar AI strategies include Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia and Uganda.
“The strategy documents published by these countries also discuss AI in the context of public sector reform, education, research, national competitiveness, and mutually beneficial partnerships with technology companies,” she says.
Issaias concludes, “The consensus on the African continent is to take advantage of the opportunities offered by AI while mitigating the associated adoption and implementation challenges, such as those highlighted in Kenya’s Strategy.”
Nonetheless, the strategy supports the various pillars of digital transformation set by the African Union, and it is expected to draw international investments, foster AI entrepreneurship, and equip youth with future-ready skills.
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