Enhancing digital transformation is essential for accelerating Africa’s digital economy, which is vital for driving innovation and entrepreneurship. With rapid growth already underway, the digital economy stands to benefit significantly from improved connectivity and the establishment of digital hubs, facilitating business expansion and attracting further investment.

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications, and Digital Economy, Dr. Margaret Ndung'u, met with Italian officials led by Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso in Nairobi on September 30. The meeting discussed Kenya’s collaboration with Italy to boost its digital transformation efforts.

“Kenya is a strategic partner for the development of artificial intelligence in Africa. It is the country that has responded the most to the pilot accelerator program for African startups,” said Minister Urso.

Kenya aims to leverage Italy’s expertise in space and emerging technologies through a partnership focused on enhancing public service delivery, deploying innovative fibre-optic solutions, promoting information exchange, and advancing the production of digital devices and chips. Additionally, the collaboration will explore areas of cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly under the Mattei Plan. This includes the “AI Hub for Sustainable Development” project, spearheaded by the Italian G7 Industry, Technology, and Digital Ministerial Chairmanship, in collaboration with the UNDP.

The partnership will support Kenya’s Digital Superhighway project, which aims to lay 100,000 km of fibre and establish digital hubs across 1,450 wards. Areas of focus include space tech, AI, and manufacturing digital devices to drive socio-economic development.

This move will support Kenya's digital advancement as it directly supports the country’s growing tech ecosystem. It aligns with Kenya’s World Bank-backed Digital Economy Acceleration Project, which is expected to modernize digital infrastructure and services, in line with the government’s goal of boosting innovation, job creation, and economic diversification.

Hikmatu Bilali