NEW YORK, US — President William Ruto has urged governments and technology companies to protect children from emerging online and artificial intelligence risks without denying them access to technology.
Speaking at a high-level meeting of the Coalition for Children’s Rights and Protection in the Age of AI at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Ruto said children should not have to choose between connectivity and safety.
“No child should have to choose between being connected and being safe,” Ruto said.
His remarks came as the coalition unveiled its 2026–2027 roadmap, backed by 23 states and eight UN entities. The coalition was launched in July by France, Spain and Kenya and later joined by Australia.
Ruto: Make Technology Safe by Design
Ruto said governments should respond to online risks by improving safeguards rather than shutting children out of digital technology.
“Our answer, therefore, cannot be to deny children access. We must expand access and make technology safe by design,” he said.
He said this was particularly important in developing countries, where access to technology can also provide children with opportunities in education, healthcare, knowledge and participation.
Ruto said children’s experiences with technology vary depending on internet connectivity, access to devices, language, digital literacy and parental support.
Coalition Sets Out AI Safety Roadmap
The coalition’s new roadmap focuses on practical measures to protect children as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into their lives.
Its priorities include safety by design, protection of children’s data, action against AI-enabled sexual abuse material and deepfakes, age assurance, stronger AI literacy and improved evidence on how children use AI.
The coalition says AI systems designed to benefit children should eventually be subject to assessment before reaching the market, while calling for faster voluntary action from developers and greater access for independent researchers to models and data.
Africa Wants a Voice in AI Safety
Ruto said Kenya’s experience showed the importance of ensuring that African children are represented in global discussions about technology and artificial intelligence.
He pointed to the Africa Forward summit held in Nairobi in May 2026, where governments, technology companies, international organisations, civil society and children discussed online safety.
According to Ruto, children participating in the discussions said they wanted technology to help them learn, create and participate, but also expected governments and technology companies to provide safeguards and give them a voice in decisions affecting their digital lives.
The coalition’s roadmap similarly stresses the need for solutions that reflect different national and regional realities.
Kenya Steps Up Child Online Protection
Ruto said Kenya had already taken steps through the Children Act, child-protection policies and the National AI Strategy 2025–2030.
Kenya’s AI Strategy was launched in 2025 and identifies AI digital infrastructure, data and AI governance, and AI research, innovation and commercialisation among its core pillars.
The Government is also developing an Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies Policy, with child online safety expected to form part of the country’s responsible-AI framework.
Kenya’s Children Act already provides specific protections against online abuse. The law criminalises conduct that subjects children to online abuse, harassment or exploitation, including cyberbullying, grooming, cyber enticement, cyber harassment and cyberstalking.
Ruto Calls for National Child Online Safety Dialogue
The President said he had called for a national dialogue bringing together children, parents, educators, communities, researchers, technology companies and government.
“Children, parents, educators, communities, researchers, technology companies and government must sit at the same table. We must build safeguards that work for Kenya, with Kenyans,” he said.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy has separately said Kenya is strengthening measures including age verification, monitoring of harmful online content and public awareness on cyber safety.
Global Push for Stronger AI Safeguards
Ruto’s intervention comes amid growing international concern over the impact of AI and digital platforms on children.
UNICEF has been developing policy guidance on emerging risks from AI systems, including chatbots and AI companions, with recommendations aimed at strengthening safeguards, accountability and oversight.
The coalition brings together governments, UN agencies, technology companies, civil society, educators and child-rights experts around a common framework for protecting children’s rights as AI develops.
Ruto said Kenya would continue the discussion through its planned Trust Summit in October and the Internet Governance Forum in December, arguing that African and other developing-country experiences should be reflected in the global approach to AI and child protection.
