Narrowing the Gender Divide in Emerging Technologies
In a continent where over 70% of the population is under the age of 35, Africa is poised for a technological revolution. Kenya, with its burgeoning youth population and a pressing need for job creation, is at the forefront of this transformation. The focus is on artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to empower young Kenyans, address unemployment, and foster innovation.
AI is not a magic fix, but it can provide a foundation for reimagining job creation, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The author, a youth leader in Kakamega County, is advocating for tech companies to invest locally through mentorship, low-cost training, and building innovation hubs.
Programs such as the Smart Africa AI for Youth initiative aim to equip thousands of young Africans with AI skills and digital competencies essential for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Kenya can replicate and expand similar AI training to enable youth to gain practical capabilities that enhance employability and innovation.
AI enables young Kenyans with minimal resources—a laptop and internet—to develop locally relevant innovations. Examples include apps diagnosing plant diseases or AI voice assistants in Kiswahili or Maasai. This democratizes access to technology-driven business opportunities, allowing youth to create solutions that improve productivity across sectors like agriculture, healthcare, finance, and logistics.
Addressing youth unemployment in Kenya also requires inclusive AI education to empower women and marginalized groups. Narrowing the gender gap in tech remains a concern, with young women and girls often excluded from opportunities in STEM and tech. By fostering diverse leadership in emerging AI-driven industries, we can create a more equitable future.
With formal jobs lagging behind new entrants—800,000 youths enter Kenya’s job market annually—equipping youth with AI and digital skills is critical to harness this demographic dividend to boost entrepreneurship and innovation-led job creation. Increasing AI course offerings in tertiary institutions will produce graduates proficient in AI technologies, preparing a workforce ready for new economy jobs, and reducing brain drain.
Combining skill development with financial inclusion is another approach. Models from other African countries, such as Ghana’s AI training initiatives that include financial stipends, could inspire Kenyan programs to overcome poverty-related barriers, ensuring youth can focus on learning and innovation.
By implementing such multi-faceted approaches to AI empowerment, Kenya’s youth can drive economic transformation, create homegrown solutions, and significantly reduce unemployment challenges through technology-enabled innovation. Africa should shift from being consumers of AI to creators of AI solutions, tailored to local challenges. The potential for AI to empower young Africans and drive economic growth is immense, and Kenya is well-positioned to lead the way.
References:
[1] Smart Africa AI for Youth Initiative. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.smartafrica.org/initiative/ai-for-youth/
[2] Kariuki, M. (2021, March 16). AI and the future of work in Africa. African Business. Retrieved from https://www.africanbusinessmagazine.com/technology-innovation/ai-and-the-future-of-work-in-africa/
[3] World Bank. (2020). Kenya Population Projections. Retrieved from https://databank.worldbank.org/source/population-projections-kenya
[4] Akyeampong, M. (2021, February 17). How Ghana is tackling the AI skills gap. African Business. Retrieved from https://www.africanbusinessmagazine.com/technology-innovation/how-ghana-is-tackling-the-ai-skills-gap/
[5] UN Women. (2020). The Gender Digital Divide. Retrieved from https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-gender-divide
- AI can serve as a foundation for job creation, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Kenya, empowering young Kenyans and addressing unemployment.
- The Smart Africa AI for Youth initiative aims to equip thousands of young Africans with AI skills and digital competencies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- AI allows young Kenyans with minimal resources to develop locally relevant innovations, democratizing access to technology-driven business opportunities.
- To ensure inclusivity, Africa should foster diverse leadership in emerging AI-driven industries, narrowing the gender gap in tech, and creating a more equitable future for women and marginalized groups.
