Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo has urged university institutions to urgently introduce their students to artificial intelligence (AI) to enable the country to compete with other African nations and the world in the race to revolutionize sustainable development.
Owalo made the appeal today in Migori County during the official opening of a two-day international multi-disciplinary conference at Rongo University.
In his keynote address under the theme; “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and innovation for sustainable Future and Advancing Global Resilience,” Owalo the country’s higher education entities to fast-track AI in their curriculums in order to realise an African-driven Agenda grounded in ethics, inclusion, and relevance to local realities.
“We live in a time of rapid and constant change. Our economies, our societies, and even the way we live our daily lives are being reshaped by digital technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence, or AI,” said Owalo who was the Chief Guest at the conference.
He said that Universities must not only teach digital skills but lead the charge in creating homegrown, ethical, and sustainable AI solutions that address African continent’s most pressing challenges.
“We must ask ourselves: are we preparing students just for exams, or for life? Are we teaching them to follow instructions or to solve real problems?” he posed.
The official told the forum that brought together researchers, educators, policymakers, and industry experts to explore how emerging technologies can drive resilience in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and finance, that AI is no longer a distant concept, but a real-time force reshaping society.
“In agriculture, AI supports precision farming. In healthcare, it enables early diagnosis and personalized treatment. In education, it expands access and customizes learning. In disaster management, AI enhances preparedness and early warnings,” he asserted.
Owalo noted that the opportunities were immense, yet even as they are embraced the possibilities are that Kenyans must remain alive to the profound challenges that accompany them such as ethical dilemmas arising from algorithmic bias that are a threat to data privacy and cyber security.
At the same time, the official under scored the need for a deliberate and inclusive governance frame works to enable the country fully achieve AI learning.
Mr. Owalo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enabling this vision through initiatives such as the Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032, development of a National AI Strategy, and the establishment of digital innovation hubs nationwide.
“Kenya has long been celebrated as Africa’s silicon savannah, a nation that embraces innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital solutions. AI, data science, and emerging technologies are now central to achieving our broader national aspirations, realizing the Kenya vision 2030, advancing Bottom-up Economic Transformation agenda, and achieving sustainable development goals,” Owalo emphasized.
He also called on institutions like Rongo University to embed AI and digital literacy across all disciplines—from sciences and engineering to agriculture and the humanities—and to actively promote interdisciplinary research addressing real-world challenges in local communities. In a bid to empower the next generation of innovators.
Mr. Owalo said the Kenya Kwanza administration will enhance support for patenting of local inventions and reforms in policy, legal and regulatory frameworks to protect young tech entrepreneurs.
During the function also addressed by the Rongo University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Gudu, who hailed Owalo for donating 100 new computers with software while serving as Cabinet Secretary for ICT.
Prof. Gudu said that the University’s postgraduate students were already using AI techniques based on the systems put in place by Owalo while serving as CS
The VC further lauded the government’s support in bridging the digital divide between urban and rural institutions and called for sustained collaboration between academia and government to translate research into practical solutions.
By George Agimba and Polycarp Ochieng’
