Why Kenya walks a tightrope between technology adoption and workforce survival

For an economy not only struggling to create new jobs but also safeguard the ones in place, any conversation about adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) leaves a bad taste in the mouth of workers.

Yet the pressure for businesses to automate and cut costs is tectonic. It is almost a case of damned if you do, damned if you do not.

The Artificial Intelligence Bill, 2026, sponsored by Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu speaks of these fears.

“A person who designs or deploys an artificial intelligence system shall (a) design or deploy the system in a manner that enhances rather than replaces human capabilities,” reads the bill on its proposed guidelines on governance of artificial intelligence.

This concern is not just locally, but globally. For the first time, earlier this month, the United Nations (UN) convened a global meeting dubbed "Global Dialogue on AI Governance" to discuss about this technology.

The speed at which this technology is being developed and adopted stood as the major concern.

“Our institutions were built to govern machines that follow commands. They are not ready for machines that decide. Some lines when crossed cannot be uncrossed,” said UN Chief Antonio Guterres.

For a country that is a technology powerhouse courtesy of M-PESA, a globally recognised mobile money innovation, Kenya cannot afford to stay on the curbs as the rest of the world advances.

Additionally, for an economy that needs to create as many jobs to retain its competitiveness in the region, Kenya cannot afford to lose its workforce as collateral damage in adoption of artificial intelligence.

Kenya’s information and communication sector employs 150,500 formally, according to the 2026 Economic Survey Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). This figure has been a steady growth from 132,100 in 2021, 140,500 in 2022, 145,600 in 2023 and 149,900 in 2024.

So, how can this technology be adopted without killing the existing workforce?

Mitesh Shah, Co-chair and managing director Mitsumi Distribution, a technology service business, says it all about how you restructure.

“AI will not take away jobs. It will make sure you improve your efficiency and cut cost of operation then you can redirect your manpower in the correct way which can give you massive growth,” he says.

He says while adoption of AI can leave a section of workers without roles, this technology also offers businesses an opportunity to ask how else can these individuals be useful to the company.

“That is how AI is used. Not to eliminate manpower but to train them to adopt a system,” he says. “Of course, there are those who have a feeling ‘I do not want to adopt’, and they may find it challenging.”

Shah argues that unlike the era of computers, it is not as difficult to integrate the workforce to use AI. He says systems such as Agentic AI, just operate using voice commands.

He gives an example of the travel industry, where through voice command, one can scout the internet for the cheapest flight to their preferred destination, with preference of seat and duration, book, charge it to their credit card and send the ticket via email.

“And that is just the travel industry. Every industry is in for a major transformation,” he says. “If you ask me if AI is very complicated? No, it is simpler than using a computer.”

It is this realisation that has informed the company, with 36 footprints across the continent, to consider setting up an AI data centre locally as a corporate social responsibility initiative in order to expose youth to software development. This venture will cost Sh260 million ($2 million).

“If we do not expose our youth to AI, then they will never have a chance to get into agentic or humanoid AI,” says Shah.

But knowing how fast AI adoption can be, unlike the internet or computers, the Artificial Intelligence Bill, 2026, seeks to provide guidance by dictating how this technology is introduced and that its expected impact is clearly spelt out.

This is for the sake of jobs and data protection.

“The Artificial Intelligence Commissioner shall classify artificial intelligence systems according to the level of risk they pose to health, safety, fundamental rights, the environment or societal welfare,” the bill reads.

Some of the provisions in the bill however, do not sit well with a section of the industry.

At the height of the discussion when the document came to light, it was argued that the provision to consider how AI adoption will affect the security of the workforce should be a reserve of the business and not an issue to warrant policing from the regulator.

Boniface Asiligwa, President of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) Kenya, a certification body for professionals in the IT, data and cyber security space, says businesses adopt AI for the sole purpose of cutting costs and solidifying their bottom line.

“I had 1,000 people doing repetitive clerical work. I have done robotic automation so that I can expand my bottom line and increase operational efficiency. I have accurate data for data driven decision making. Then you are telling me I should not do that or I should repurpose all these people. What is the essence then of adopting AI?” he posed.

Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu who is the sponsor of the bill said the bill is not out to strangle the role of AI in businesses, noting that the technology has proven how productive it is as it sometimes thinks and makes decisions faster than humans.

“But in an institution where we see AI may replace humans, she said, there should be provision for reskilling.

“If AI is introduced to a job place, what is the effect on human jobs? Then in that, the bill proposes you create more opportunities as opposed to killing jobs,” she said.