AI for All: From Curious to Confident — Why African Voices Must Lead the Continent’s AI Revolution

 Hosted during Africa AI Week, the dynamic session "AI for All: From Curious to Confident" convened technologists, advocates, and thought leaders to dissect AI’s promise and perils through a distinctly African lens. Moving beyond theory, the dialogue centered on urgent priorities: ethical frameworks, inclusive AI models reflecting Africa’s diversity, and leveraging consumer data responsibly.

Language: Preservation as Power

A core theme emerged: AI must not erase African languages. Speakers championed lexicons, oral language models, and localized datasets as essential tools. The call was clear: Build AI that captures linguistic context and content to empower communities, ensuring African voices actively shape—not just populate—the global AI ecosystem.

Health AI: Precision Medicine’s African Potential

AI’s role in precision medicine sparked significant interest, particularly in pharmacy and genomics. While genomic data remains costly, its integration with Africa’s existing health records and consumer datasets holds transformative power. The imperative? Train models ethically, prioritizing privacy, to unlock truly personalized African healthcare solutions.

Beyond Hype: Confronting the "Talking, Not Doing" Culture

The tone shifted critically when addressing AI’s on-ground reality in Kenya and beyond. Participants decried a pervasive culture of “talking, not doing.” The solution demands a pivot from hype to locally relevant, accountable innovation—where tangible impact outweighs rhetoric.

Ethics: Guardrails Against Exploitation

As generative AI proliferates, ethical alarms rang loud. Discussions highlighted risks of bias, misinformation, and commercial exploitation of voices and identities. "When the product is free, you are the product," warned one speaker, demanding transparency, informed consent, and royalties for communities whose data fuels profit-driven tools. Concerns also addressed model collapse from over-reliance on platforms like X (Twitter). The antidote? Robust, context-rich datasets and "data-for-good" practices prioritizing user benefit.

The Imperative: Africa in the Driver’s Seat

Captured by hashtags like #AIFORALL, #AFRICAAIWEEK, #AIFORAFRICA, and #DATAFORGOOD, the session underscored a non-negotiable truth: Africa must be an architect—not just a data source—in the AI revolution. With strategic investment, protective frameworks, and unwavering focus on self-determination, AI can become a tool of empowerment. The path from curiosity to confidence requires Africa to own its AI narrative.

Unlocking Kenya’s Economic Potential: The Transformative Power of Diaspora Remittances

 Unlocking Kenya’s Economic Potential: The Transformative Power of Diaspora Remittances

Remittances have emerged as a vital economic lifeline for Kenya, significantly influencing household welfare, financial inclusion, and macroeconomic stability. In 2024, Kenya received a record-breaking $4.9 billion in remittances, marking an 18% increase from 2023. This figure stands tall next to goods exports at $13 billion, highlighting remittances as a near-equal economic pillar.

Despite this growth, the sector faces considerable hurdles. The cost of sending $200 to Kenya remains at 10%, while sending $500 from the United States incurs a 7.6% fee. These high transaction costs, coupled with a 3.5% remittance tax, reduce the real value reaching recipients. With an average 11% total cost of remittance from foreign countries to Kenya, the financial burden is disproportionately heavy, especially for small-scale senders.

Who Sends the Money—and Where Does It Go?

The Kenyan diaspora in the United States contributes 55% of the total remittances, followed by Saudi Arabia, which has shown a 9% increase in flows. However, approximately 60% of Kenyans in the U.S. are undocumented, which adds risks, limits access to formal financial channels, and contributes to high reliance on informal remittance methods.

Alarmingly, most remitted money is spent on basic needs such as food rather than investment, suggesting a missed opportunity for long-term economic empowerment. Tools like Pesa Metrics, which help recipients split money for various purposes, are trying to address this, but uptake remains limited.

Beyond Financial Capital: Intellectual and Social Gains

Kenya is beginning to recognize that remittances aren't just financial—they’re also vehicles for intellectual capital. Programs like “Kazi Majuu” aim to leverage diaspora skills and experience to enhance employment and innovation back home. Interaction with other cultures, especially through diaspora returnees and investors, brings new ways of thinking that could stimulate growth in Kenya’s innovation ecosystem.

Gender Inclusion and the Role of Women in Remittances

Gender-inclusive initiatives are gaining traction. Angela Wambugu from Women World Banking highlighted that a lack of awareness among women leads them to rely on informal channels. She stressed the importance of digital platforms, data-driven strategies, and financial education to empower women and ensure their inclusion in the formal financial system.

Innovation, Trust, and the Fintech Frontier

According to Kennedy Nyangweso of Diamond Trust Bank, financial institutions are embracing fintech. Once skeptical of mobile banking, banks are now building APIs and mobile wallets to support remittance flows. These platforms enhance trust, accessibility, and efficiency, and are helping expand services across three East African countries.

Still, challenges remain. Bob Nyangweso noted the 6% average remittance cost, limited formal investment tools, and trust issues as major barriers. He called for innovative diaspora investment platforms, especially in housing and SMEs, backed by standardized exchange rates, licensing of diaspora fintechs, and education remittances.

The Central Bank’s Vision

Capitus Chironga from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) emphasized three core challenges: trust, infrastructure, and cost. Kenya currently licenses 29 Money Remittance Providers (MRPs), yet they face stiff competition from commercial banks. Since the creation of MRPs in 2013, their impact has been significant, but banks still dominate the dollar inflow market.

Only 42% of Kenyans are financially literate, underlining the need for continued education. CBK has invested 140 million shillings in data collection—through FinAccess and household surveys—to shape policies under the National Inclusive Financial Strategy. These insights support financial health priorities like insurance for healthcare and investment growth.

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Conclusion

Kenya’s diaspora continues to be an economic powerhouse, not only in monetary terms but also through intellectual and social contributions. However, for remittances to reach their full potential, transaction costs must come down, formal investment tools must expand, and inclusive strategies—especially for women—must be prioritized. With better data, financial literacy, and strong public-private collaboration, Kenya can fully harness the transformative power of remittances.

The Vital Role of Smart Cities Ambassadors in Africa

 The Vital Role of Smart Cities Ambassadors in Africa

Africa's rapid urbanization presents a unique challenge: cities like Lagos, Nairobi, Kigali, Accra, and Cape Town are booming, straining infrastructure (power, transport, water, housing) while simultaneously experiencing a surge in digital adoption. Smart Cities Ambassadors are essential in this context, bridging cutting-edge technology with Africa's distinct urban development needs.

Why Africa Needs Smart Cities Ambassadors:

1. Infrastructure Under Pressure: Existing systems struggle with scale, demanding efficient, adaptable solutions.

2. Digital Momentum: High mobile and fintech penetration, combined with a young, tech-savvy population, fuels innovation potential.

3. Local Solutions Required: Global smart city models must be adapted to address African realities like informal settlements, education access, and environmental sustainability.

Key Functions of a Smart Cities Ambassador in Africa:

1. Champion Locally Relevant Tech:

   • Advocate for affordable, accessible solutions: solar mini-grids, mobile health, smart public transport.

   • Promote homegrown innovations like Kenya's Ushahidi (crisis mapping) or Uganda's SafeBoda (urban mobility).

2. Connect Stakeholders:

   • Act as a vital link between city governments, tech startups, researchers, and communities.

   • Drive collaboration on projects like Kigali's smart zones or Cape Town's data-driven governance.

3. Ensure Inclusivity & Build Skills:

   • Guarantee women, youth, and marginalized groups participate in digital planning.

   • Advance digital literacy through training programs and community tech hubs.

4. Facilitate Global Partnerships:

   • Represent African initiatives on international platforms (e.g., UN-Habitat).

   • Adapt global best practices locally, championing "Made-in-Africa" solutions.

African Smart City Initiatives & Champions:

• Smart Africa Alliance (Rwanda): Drives digital transformation across the continent via policy, infrastructure, and innovation.

• Konza Technopolis (Kenya): A government-backed flagship project creating a tech-driven economic hub, where Ambassadors foster investment and tech-integrated planning.

• Digital Nigeria Ambassadors Program: Cultivates advocates for digital transformation, closely aligning with smart city objectives.

Notable Figures Leading the Way:

• Paula Ingabire (Rwanda): As Minister of ICT and Innovation, she champions digital solutions for urban development.

• Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid (African Union): Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, advocating for smart, inclusive infrastructure and urban planning.

In Summary:

An African Smart Cities Ambassador is more than a technology advocate; they are community-focused innovators who deeply understand local urban challenges. They uniquely connect modern technology with fundamental infrastructure needs, championing inclusive, affordable, and scalable solutions for sustainable African cities.