Kenya Calls for AI-Driven, African-Centred Future for Broadcasting at East Africa Convention

Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to building a modern, innovative and inclusive broadcasting ecosystem as the country hosted the 5th Broadcasters Convention East Africa in Nairobi under the theme “Reimagining Next: AI, Cloud, and the Future of Broadcast in Africa.”

Speaking during the official opening of the convention, Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Mr Stephen Isaboke, EBS, said Africa’s broadcasting industry is entering a new era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital platforms and data-driven technologies that are transforming how content is created, distributed and consumed.

The Government of Kenya recognises broadcasting and telecommunications as strategic pillars under the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy agenda within the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Kenya’s policy direction remains focused on expanding digital infrastructure, strengthening connectivity, supporting innovation ecosystems and creating an enabling regulatory environment that allows media and creative industries to thrive responsibly within the digital economy.

PS Isaboke highlighted the rapid growth of Kenya’s digital ecosystem, noting that mobile data subscriptions have now reached approximately 62 million, while smartphone penetration stands at 92.9 per cent. He further observed that rising 5G consumption is fundamentally reshaping media consumption habits, particularly among young audiences whose engagement is increasingly mobile-first, on-demand and digitally driven.

“The future of AI in broadcasting cannot simply rely on imported models and external realities. We must intentionally build systems that understand African contexts, languages and cultures,” said PS Isaboke. “AI must help preserve and amplify our indigenous narratives, not dilute them.”

He further noted that the rise of AI and cloud technologies introduces important governance considerations around data protection, intellectual property rights, cybersecurity, platform accountability and ethical AI deployment. In response, the Government continues to advance national AI governance frameworks and strengthen digital policy environments aimed at supporting innovation while safeguarding public trust and copyright integrity.

The Principal Secretary stressed the importance of digital skills development and continuous capacity building, observing that the future broadcaster will increasingly operate at the intersection of journalism, technology, data science and digital production.

“The future of media in Africa must be innovative, inclusive, trusted and proudly African,” he said before officially declaring the convention open.