The government will soon start using Artificial Intelligence to train civil servants as part of the ongoing efforts to improve their efficiency in service delivery in a digital era.
This will become a reality once the Regional Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skilling at the Kenya School of Government becomes operational, in a move aimed at enhancing services offered in the public service, the government said.
The initiative was the focus of discussions between ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui, his Public Service and Human Capital Development counterpart Jane Kere Imbunya, during a recent meeting.
The two leaders explored strategies for accelerating the operationalisation of the AI centre and advancing modalities for the effective establishment and activation of the facility.
The establishment of the centre, which has received significant support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), envisions a strategic hub for building digital and AI capabilities across the public sector.
The centre is expected to equip civil servants with AI and digital skills, enabling them to provide citizen-centric services more efficiently in the digital era.
''The two PS sought to explore the centre’s potential role in supporting Kenya’s digital diplomacy, particularly in fostering innovation and enhancing regional and international cooperation in emerging technologies,'' a statement by the State Department Public Service read in part.
Kenya’s public service has been undergoing digital transformation, with ministries integrating technology to improve service delivery.
The AI Skilling Centre aims to bridge the skills gap by training government employees on emerging technologies, AI applications, and data-driven governance.
The two PSs have emphasised the importance of accelerating the operational and implementation frameworks to ensure the centre is launched without delay and begins to deliver a tangible impact across the public service.
The move aligns with global trends, where governments worldwide are investing in AI-driven governance.
While the centre is expected to boost efficiency, concerns have been raised that there should be caution in AI adoption which requires ethical considerations, particularly in data privacy and transparency.
Before the introduction of AI-enhanced training, the Kenya School of Government (KSG) primarily focused on traditional capacity-building programs for public servants.
