Kenya has signed a Joint Declaration with American AI giant Anthropic, marking a significant step in the country's push into the global AI space. The agreement, signed in New York on September 22, 2026, aims to advance responsible AI collaboration between the two parties. President William Ruto, leading Kenya's delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, witnessed the signing. The deal focuses on AI skills and capacity building, research, and responsible public-sector applications.
The Joint Declaration covers several key areas, including AI safety and evaluation, and real-world uses in education and health. The next phase of the partnership will involve action pilots, research initiatives, and training programs, with Kenyan institutions playing a significant role. Both parties will co-create initiatives, build local capacity, test AI applications, and scale up successful programs, all in line with Kenyan law. This approach ensures that frontier AI technologies developed and applied in Kenya reflect the country's institutions, languages, and development priorities.
A key aspect of the agreement is the commitment to data sovereignty, with Kenyan law governing any future program involving access, including data protection, cybersecurity, and public-sector requirements. This ensures that Kenya maintains control over its public data and that government institutions' obligations to protect personal and sensitive information remain unchanged. The coordination of the partnership will be overseen by the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
The partnership was facilitated by Ambassador Philip Thigo, Kenya's Special Envoy on Technology, who opened talks with Anthropic in June 2026. Thigo traveled to Silicon Valley to meet Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, and pitch Nairobi's vision for responsible AI deployment. The groundwork for the deal continued with a meeting between ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui and an Anthropic delegation on September 3, 2026.
Kenya's push into the global AI space is part of its broader technology diplomacy strategy, which involves striking partnerships with global tech firms, research institutions, and governments. The country is reinforcing its policy backbone through the Kenya AI Strategy 2025–2030 and an ongoing AI and Emerging Technologies Policy. The Anthropic deal is the latest move in this effort, aiming to help shape emerging technologies for public benefit.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei signed the agreement on Kenya's behalf, while Elizabeth Kelly, Anthropic's Head of Beneficial Deployments, signed for the company. The ceremony was witnessed by Anthropic's Global Impact Lead, Amb. Courtney O'Donnell, and Ambassador Thigo. After the signing, PS Sing'oei credited Thigo for driving the deal with Anthropic.
The partnership is expected to boost Africa's voice on peace, development, and digital transformation on the world stage. President Ruto has repeatedly linked AI to regional and global partnerships, arguing that Kenya and Africa need to pool resources, talent, and infrastructure to capture real value from AI. The deal is seen as a significant step towards achieving this goal, with Kenya taking a lead in shaping the future of AI in Africa.
Key points
- Kenya and Anthropic have partnered on AI development with a focus on responsible AI collaboration and data sovereignty.
- The partnership aims to advance AI skills and capacity building, research, and responsible public-sector applications in Kenya.
- The agreement ensures that frontier AI technologies developed and applied in Kenya reflect the country's institutions, languages, and development priorities.
