Kenya has called for an AI-driven, African-centered approach to the future of media, warning that the continent must not rely on imported technological models to tell its own stories.
Speaking at the official opening of the 5th Broadcasters Convention East Africa in Nairobi Tuesday, government and industry leaders emphasized that while Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud computing offer immense opportunities, the primary focus must remain on preserving local culture and protecting public trust.
The regional convention, running under the theme “Reimagining Next: AI, Cloud, and the Future of Broadcast in Africa,” brought together the region’s top media minds. The forum underscored a rapid shift toward AI, cloud infrastructure, and data-driven technologies that are fundamentally reshaping how content is created and consumed across the continent.
Hosting the event, Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to building a modern, inclusive media ecosystem that positions the creative economy as a strategic pillar under the government’s Digital Superhighway agenda.
Addressing the delegates, the Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Mr. Stephen Isaboke, EBS, who officially opened the meeting stressed that Africa must take charge of its own technological narrative.
“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,” PS Isaboke stated. “AI must help preserve and amplify our indigenous narratives, not dilute them.”
The push for localized technological integration comes at a time when Kenya’s digital infrastructure is expanding rapidly. Current industry data reveals that mobile data subscriptions in the country have soared to 62 million, with smartphone penetration hitting nearly 93 percent. Yet, stakeholders warned that this massive digital leap brings urgent, concurrent challenges regarding regulation, intellectual property protection, and cybersecurity.
Highlighting these governance priorities, industry leader and chair of the Association of Professional Broadcasters Tabitha Mutemi, urged sector players to balance rapid technological adoption with strict ethical standards to protect the integrity of the information ecosystem.
“As we embrace AI and cloud technologies, our biggest priority must be balancing innovation with integrity,” Mutemi said. “We need robust governance frameworks that protect our content creators, secure data privacy, and ensure that technology acts as a tool for ethical storytelling rather than a source of misinformation.”
Despite these challenges, industry leaders broadly agree that the ongoing digital transformation is successfully lowering traditional production barriers, making it easier than ever for African stories to find a global audience.
The Secretary for Information, Temesi Mukani, pointed out that this structural shift offers an unprecedented launchpad for the continent’s creative and media sectors.
“AI, cloud infrastructure, and digital platforms are fundamentally reshaping how content is created and consumed across the continent,” Mukani noted. “This shift offers an unprecedented opportunity for African broadcasting lowering production barriers and expanding our reach so we can tell authentic local stories with true global relevance.”
As the convention kicked off, the consensus among delegates remained clear: for the modern broadcaster, the future now lies at the definitive intersection of journalism, technology, and data science a future that must remain proudly and authentically African.
