Kenya Unveils AI for Disability Initiative to Bridge Digital Divide for Persons with Disabilities
PHOTO: CS Kabogo, PS ISaboke, Project Partners and Kenyan Students who have developed inclusive assistive solutions powered by AI.
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 1 – The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MoICDE), in partnership with Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), Qhala, inABLE, Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust (AT4D) and Huawei have unveiled the Kenya AI for Disability Project during the closing ceremony of the Connected Africa Summit 2026 at Nairobi’s Edge Convention Centre.
The initiative represents a fundamental shift in the continental digital transformation journey positioning inclusion not as a policy aspiration but as a design principle embedded within technology, infrastructure and innovation ecosystems.
The launch reflects a deliberate multi-stakeholder collaboration model, with the Government of Kenya, through MoICDE, playing a central role alongside technical and innovation partners in co-designing scalable assistive technologies that address real-world barriers faced by persons with disabilities.
Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Hon. William Kabogo while speaking during the launch emphasized that the initiative reflects Kenya’s broader commitment to building an inclusive digital economy where no one is left behind. CS Kabogo urged African countries to shift from Inclusion as Aspiration to Inclusion by Design.
“As Africa advances its digital agenda, we must remain deliberate in our approach, Africa must be at the table not on the menu in shaping solutions powered by emerging technologies,” He said.
He added that the project is a practical demonstration of commitments made during the Connected Africa Summit 2026 Ministerial Communiqué, particularly on accelerating inclusive digital skills development, AI capacity building, and equitable access to digital infrastructure.
“This initiative is part of our commitment to ensuring that every Kenyan has an opportunity to participate in the digital economy whether through innovation, employment, or entrepreneurship. We are moving from commitments to delivery,” he added.
Mary Kerema, Secretary for ICT, E-Government and Digital Economy underscored that the project represents a structural shift in how government designs and delivers digital services.
“The AI for Disability Project marks a decisive shift from inclusion as an aspiration to inclusion by design. It brings together a powerful coalition of disability experts, innovation leaders and global technology partners to address real, lived challenges faced by persons with disabilities,” said Ms Karema.
She noted that MoICDE is not only facilitating the initiative but is actively co-engineering solutions with partners.
As government, we are deliberately re-engineering our systems to be inclusive embedding accessibility into our digital infrastructure, platforms, and services from the outset, rather than retrofitting it later,” she added.
Ms. Kerema further highlighted that the initiative is anchored within Kenya’s national AI strategy and leverages key national infrastructure including the Konza Technopolis Data Centre and a growing network of digital hubs across the country, aimed at expanding access, training, and innovation at scale.
inABLE, Founder and Executive Director Irene Mbari-Kirika, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a critical step toward addressing long-standing barriers faced by persons with disabilities in education, employment and digital participation through Assistive Innovation.
“For too long, persons with disabilities have been excluded from the digital economy not because of lack of ability, but because systems were not designed with them in mind, This initiative changes that reality by bringing co-creation, innovation and accessibility together at scale,” she said.
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Kenya and across Africa face a severe “burden” that is largely defined by social, economic and physical barriers, rather than just the impairment itself.
The burden is characterized by high poverty rates, limited access to services, and social stigma, often resulting in exclusion from mainstream society.
According to the 2019 Census, 2.2% of Kenyans live with a disability (roughly 900,000 to 1 million people), though this is considered a conservative estimate compared to the 16% global estimate by the WHO.
Approximately 45.7% of PWDs in Kenya live in poverty, well above the national average, often due to lack of employment and high costs associated with disability. Many live in rural areas, leading to further isolation.
Exclusion of PWDs from the workforce results in an estimated KES 6 billion annual loss to the GDP.
Ms Mbari-Kirika emphasized that inclusive technology is not only a rights issue but also an economic imperative, unlocking untapped talent and productivity.
The project brings together a strong coalition of partners, including the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MoICDE), the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), inABLE, Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust (AT4D), Qhala and Huawei Kenya.
Each partner contributes complementary expertise ranging from disability inclusion research, assistive technology innovation, AI development, and infrastructure deployment.
Subsequently, the launch is directly aligned with the outcomes of the Connected Africa Summit 2026 Ministerial Communiqué, adopted on 30th April 2026 which emphasizes a shift from policy formulation to accelerated, harmonised and measurable implementation of Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
Key commitments reinforced through the AI for Disability Project include: Accelerating digital skills and AI capacity, particularly for youth, women, and underserved communities.
Strengthening inclusive digital infrastructure, ensuring interoperability and accessibility Advancing a trusted digital ecosystem, aligned with continental frameworks on data governance and digital identity.
Leveraging public-private partnerships to mobilise financing and scale innovation ecosystems.
The Connected Africa Summit 2026 concluded with a strong continental consensus that Africa must move decisively from strategy to execution, particularly in ensuring that digital transformation benefits all citizens.
The AI for Disability Project is one of the first flagship initiatives to emerge from this renewed focus, reinforcing Kenya’s leadership in inclusive digital innovation and positioning the country as a regional hub for accessible technology development.
