NAIROBI, Kenya – The Cabinet has approved a series of digital economy reforms, including the establishment of a Standing Cabinet Committee on Artificial Intelligence and adoption of a new National Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Policy aimed at creating thousands of jobs.
The decisions were made during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House.
According to the Cabinet, the new AI committee will spearhead Kenya’s national artificial intelligence strategy, coordinate AI policy across government and position the country as a regional leader in the responsible development and deployment of the technology.
The committee is expected to promote AI-driven innovation, improve public service delivery, increase productivity and support job creation while ensuring appropriate governance and safeguards are put in place.
Cabinet also adopted the National Business Process Outsourcing Policy, which seeks to position Kenya as a preferred global outsourcing destination by leveraging the country’s English-speaking workforce, favourable time zone and expanding digital infrastructure.
The government said the policy is expected to attract international investment, expand digital employment opportunities and enable Kenya to capture a larger share of the global BPO market, which is projected to exceed Sh68 trillion by 2030.
The digital reforms are part of the government’s wider economic transformation agenda, which seeks to increase employment opportunities for young people through technology and digital services.
Officials say strengthening Kenya’s competitiveness in outsourcing and artificial intelligence will diversify the economy while enhancing the country’s position as a regional technology and innovation hub.