Kenya has taken a significant step in deepening the capacity of its ICT leadership to harness Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies. A week-long knowledge exchange programme was held in Shenzhen, China, from September 12 to 19, 2026, bringing together government ICT directors. The programme was coordinated by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, in partnership with Huawei Technologies. This initiative aims to equip government ICT officers with practical skills to support Kenya's digital government agenda.
The programme builds on a series of local workshops and virtual training sessions conducted by the Ministry over the past financial year in collaboration with Huawei. These sessions focused on equipping government ICT officers with practical skills to support Kenya's digital government agenda. Secretary for ICT Security and Audit Control Emmanuel Kata emphasized the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence in government. He noted that AI is no longer a conversation about the future but is already reshaping how governments plan, make decisions, and deliver services to citizens.
Acting Secretary for ICT, Digital Governance and Data Governance Bernard Rotich urged the directors to translate the knowledge and experiences gained into practical solutions. These solutions should strengthen digital government and improve service delivery in Kenya. Rotich highlighted that the value of this exchange goes beyond the technology learned in Shenzhen. It is about understanding how innovation can be translated into practical solutions for public institutions.
The programme brought together ICT Directors and Deputy Directors from various Ministries, State Departments, and government agencies. Zhenyu Wang, Deputy Country Manager at Huawei Kenya, welcomed the Kenyan delegation to Shenzhen and expressed appreciation for their participation. Wang noted the importance of continued collaboration in advancing digital transformation. He hoped the knowledge and experiences gained would provide useful insights that can be adapted to Kenya's digital transformation journey.
The training gave the Kenyan delegation an opportunity to see how technology, leadership, people, and infrastructure can work together to drive continuous organisational and digital transformation. The directors were taken through Huawei's journey of continuous growth and business management. They gained insights into the strategies and practices that have supported the company's evolution and culture of innovation.
The programme also explored China's digital transformation experience, including Futian's digital transformation initiatives and the National AI Strategy. The delegation visited the Guangzhou Artificial Intelligence Integration Empowerment Centre and a data centre showcase. They gained first-hand exposure to the infrastructure and ecosystem that support the deployment of AI technologies at scale.
As Kenya continues to expand digital public services and strengthen the use of technology across government, the knowledge gained through the Shenzhen exchange offers an opportunity for participating institutions to draw practical lessons. The goal is to explore how AI and other emerging technologies can be responsibly adapted to the Kenyan context. The training aims to support Kenya's digital government agenda and improve service delivery.
Key points
- Kenya's ICT leaders undergo AI training in Shenzhen to harness Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies for digital government agenda.
- The programme was coordinated by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, in partnership with Huawei Technologies.
- The training aims to support Kenya's digital government agenda and improve service delivery.
