How to navigate AI fears, climate change and create opportunities

Two developments caught my attention this past week. The first was the job-seeking frenzy at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, where thousands of young Kenyans scrambled for opportunities abroad, exposing the deep-seated anxiety felt by many in the face of runaway unemployment.

The second one was an experience I had in the Far East, where I was served food by a robot at a restaurant, highlighting how quickly traditional jobs will become obsolete.

These two developments summarise both the threat and opportunity facing Kenya at this pivotal moment in the world – the threat posed by the growing scarcity of conventional jobs and the unlimited opportunity presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a growing nature-based economy.

The reality is that many Kenyans, particularly the youth, feel trapped in a precarious economic environment. They are increasingly worried about job losses, and the pressure is mounting on policymakers to come up with creative, sustainable solutions.

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We can no longer rely on exporting labour or short-term job creation schemes. Instead, Kenya needs a visionary approach that embraces the future, equips workers with relevant skills and fosters innovation.

First, Kenya must tap into the digital space whose job creation potential is enormous. With internet penetration at 40.8 per cent of the population, expanding access, especially in rural areas, can unlock opportunities in entrepreneurship, remote work and tech-driven industries.

Companies like Jumia and Sendy have demonstrated the power of e-commerce and logistics in creating jobs. Kenya must now focus on developing digital skills nationwide, preparing the next generation to seize opportunities in the global digital economy.

Second, Kenya must upskill its workforce for the AI and automation era. While automation may replace repetitive jobs, it will also create new roles that require managing and programming advanced technologies. As I believe, “It’s not AI that will replace us - it’s those who harness AI that will shape the future.” 

As such, the government should collaborate with tech companies to offer affordable upskilling programmes in AI, coding, and data science, ensuring Kenyans thrive in emerging industries. By doing so, Kenya can position itself as a regional tech hub, benefiting sectors like manufacturing and agriculture.

Third, there is an urgent need to formalise and empower flexible work platforms like Airbnb and freelance marketplaces. These platforms already provide opportunities but often lack regulation and security. By ensuring fair wages, social security, and access to financial services, the government can turn these informal jobs into stable income sources.

The broader informal sector, which employs over 80 per cent of our workforce, should also be supported with digital tools and microfinancing to increase productivity and income stability. Fourth, Kenya can turn the growing crisis of climate change into a sustainable economic opportunity. Innovative ideas such as the Plant Your Age initiative, which aims to plant billions of trees across Africa, can be scaled to create thousands of green jobs in agroforestry, conservation, and eco-tourism.

Such initiatives can expand to include housing projects and river rehabilitation, integrating sustainable living with environmental restoration. By involving communities in both tree-growing, and eco-friendly housing development, and encouraging corporate and individual sponsorship, these initiatives can flourish without relying on government funds.

This step would not only promote green industries but also align with global financing trends, tapping into international markets for carbon credits and turning environmental stewardship into economic gain.

Finally, we must put in place the right infrastructure to turbo-charge the green and digital economic sectors. Successive governments have made progress in building road networks and energy projects, but the changing global dynamics calls for an aggressive focus on broadband expansion, renewable energy projects, and smart city developments.

These projects would not only provide jobs but also create a framework for future industries that are sustainable and innovative. We can turn our present crises into limitless opportunities for sustainable growth.

Let’s just do it! The time for real and transformative action is now. Think green, Act green!