Kenya's Special Envoy on Technology deepens collaboration on digital science and artificial intelligence with France

Kenya has strengthened its collaboration with France in the fields of digital science and artificial intelligence (AI) following a high-level engagement between Ambassador Philip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology to the President of Kenya, and a delegation from Inria, the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology.

The French delegation, comprising Cécile Vigouroux (Director of International Relations), Hélène Kirchner (Scientific Expert), and Laura Norcy (International Partnership Officer), visited Kenya as part of a week-long mission. Building on earlier exchanges held during the GPAI Innovation Workshop in Tokyo, the discussions in Nairobi focused on anchoring collaboration between Inria and Kenya’s Action Lab on research, policy, and innovation in digital science and AI.

According to Ambassador Thigo, the two sides agreed to prioritize joint work on AI disruptions in the labor market and the future of work. This will include developing forward-looking scenarios, policy options, and agile responses to help societies adapt inclusively and resiliently to these technological transformations.

“This partnership aligns with our vision of positioning Kenya as a trusted hub for AI research and governance,” Ambassador Thigo said. “Institutions like Inria bring vital expertise that enables us to build shared capacity rooted in common principles and global standards.”

The collaboration is expected to deepen as Inria continues to engage with Kenya’s higher education, research, and innovation ecosystem. Both parties also highlighted their intent to co-create priority outcomes ahead of the France–Africa Summit in May 2026, ensuring that digital science and AI remain central to the partnership agenda.

By:  Kanto Kai Okanta