Kenya has stepped up its push for stronger international cooperation on artificial intelligence, calling for countries to be better prepared to detect, report and respond to AI related crises as the technology rapidly reshapes critical sectors.
Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy William Kabogo made the case for coordinated global preparedness during a high level forum on AI governance held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The event, themed ‘Governing at the Speed of AI,’ brought together stakeholders to discuss international coordination and preparedness for potential AI related emergencies.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr Kabogo held talks with former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos Calderón on international cooperation in AI governance.
The discussions focused on the need to ensure countries that use advanced AI technologies are involved in preparedness arrangements from the outset rather than being brought into crisis-response mechanisms after an incident has occurred.
Mr Kabogo said AI was increasingly becoming embedded in essential services, making preparedness a matter of national and international importance.
Artificial intelligence is already being used in areas including healthcare, agriculture, education, financial services and public administration.
This growing dependence, he said, means countries must have the capacity to recognise an AI related incident, assess its implications and protect citizens regardless of whether they develop the underlying technology themselves.
“Preparedness has to be in place before a crisis,” Mr Kabogo said, emphasising the importance of clear responsibilities, early warning mechanisms, incident reporting and coordinated cross border responses.
Kenya also proposed an international AI crisis preparedness exercise bringing together governments, technology developers, national AI and cybersecurity institutions, international organisations, researchers and civil society.
The proposed exercise is intended to test how different actors would respond to a major AI related incident and identify gaps in existing international arrangements.
Kenya has invited partners to continue discussions on the initiative during the Internet Governance Forum, which will be held in Nairobi from December 14 to 18, 2026.
The initiative places Kenya at the centre of wider efforts to develop practical mechanisms for governing rapidly advancing technologies while balancing innovation with public safety.
Mr Kabogo also represented Kenya at the signing of the Charter of the Digital Cooperation Organization at the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
The signing was witnessed by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Attorney General Dorcas Oduor.
Kenya’s accession to the Digital Cooperation Organization was approved by the organisation’s Council on July 29, 2026, with ratification expected to proceed through the country’s constitutional processes.
The government says membership will strengthen Kenya’s participation in international discussions on cross-border data flows, digital trade and investment in digital infrastructure.
It will also provide a platform for Kenya to advocate greater coherence between existing international instruments governing the digital economy.
The move comes as countries seek to establish common approaches to digital regulation amid rapid growth in artificial intelligence, data driven services and cross border digital commerce.
For Kenya, the government has linked deeper international digital cooperation to efforts to expand technology driven economic opportunities, improve connectivity and build local capacity.
President William Ruto also held discussions with Cisco Executive Vice President Francine Katsoudas during the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.
The talks focused on technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and skills development, including the proposed Moran AI and Cyber Center of Excellence, a Kenya Defence Forces initiative aimed at strengthening capabilities in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other emerging technologies.
The centre is expected to contribute to the development of specialised skills as Kenya responds to the growing importance of digital technologies in national security and the wider economy.
President Ruto and Ms Katsoudas also discussed Cisco’s support for the Accra Reset agenda, which seeks to promote a shift in Africa’s development model from dependence on aid towards investment, employment creation and stronger domestic capacity.
Digital skills and enterprise development are among the areas highlighted in the engagement.
The discussions underline the government’s broader strategy of working with international technology companies and institutions to expand Kenya’s digital capabilities while creating opportunities for young people.
The engagements in New York come at a time when governments worldwide are grappling with the opportunities and risks presented by increasingly capable artificial intelligence systems.
For Kenya, the focus is not only on developing and adopting AI but also on ensuring that institutions have the skills, infrastructure and systems needed to respond when technology related disruptions occur.
The government is seeking greater international collaboration on digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, AI governance, data flows and skills development.
The proposed AI preparedness exercise, participation in the Digital Cooperation Organization and engagements with global technology companies form part of this wider effort.
Kenya’s message at the United Nations was that AI governance cannot be confined to the countries and companies that develop the technology.
As more governments deploy AI in essential services, countries that depend on the technology will also need a voice in shaping international preparedness arrangements and the rules governing responses to potential incidents.
The government has therefore positioned international cooperation, skills development and institutional preparedness as key components of Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.
The Nairobi Internet Governance Forum later this year is expected to provide another platform for advancing discussions on how governments, industry, researchers and civil society can work together to address the rapidly evolving challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
