Theme 02
Women in ICT
Women in Tech Futures: Building Kenya’s Next Generation of Women in AI, Robotics & Automation
To accelerate the meaningful participation of Kenyan women and girls in high-growth technology fields including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, and automation by closing critical digital skills gaps, dismantling systemic barriers, and positioning them as innovators, not just users, in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will be achieved by equipping 3,000 women and girls (aged 15–35) across urban and rural Kenya with future-ready digital competencies, fostering safe innovation spaces, and influencing policy to ensure inclusive technological transformation.
Implementation Strategy
Digital Skills Development Hubs (Core Intervention)
- Establish 20 Women in Tech Hubs in partnership with TVETs, universities, and community centers across counties.
- Curriculum: foundational digital literacy for beginners; AI & machine learning using free tools (Google Teachable Machine, Kaggle, Python basics); robotics & automation (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, IoT kits); and content creation & digital entrepreneurship (video editing, podcasting, AI-assisted design).
- Delivery: blended learning in-person labs plus mobile-friendly e-modules via WhatsApp/USSD for low-bandwidth areas.
- Certification: partnerships with Kenya ICT Authority, CUE, and Google/AWS for recognized micro-credentials.
Bridging the Digital Divide
- Provide device lending libraries (tablets/laptops) and free data vouchers for learners in underserved areas.
- Partner with county governments to expand Wi-Fi zones in youth centers and libraries.
- Offer offline coding kits and printed AI/robotics activity guides for remote communities.
Future Job Market Preparation
- Career Labs: monthly sessions on how AI is reshaping jobs in agriculture, health, and retail, and reskilling pathways for women in at-risk sectors (e.g. retail cashiers → AI data annotators).
- Building digital portfolios and freelancing profiles (Upwork, Fiverr).
- Industry Immersion: site visits and mentorship from women in tech firms (e.g. Andela, iHub, Safaricom AI Lab).
Innovation & Prototyping
- Annual “TechHer Hackathon”: girls and women design AI/robotics solutions for local challenges (e.g. farm automation, maternal health chatbots).
- Seed grants (KES 50,000–200,000) for the top 10 prototypes to pilot in communities.
Policy & Ecosystem Advocacy
- Produce a “Gender & AI in Kenya” policy brief highlighting risks of algorithmic bias and job displacement.
- Advocate for 30% inclusion of women in national AI/robotics task forces and county digital economy plans.
- Launch a #TechHerKenya campaign to shift narratives—showcasing women as builders, not just users/consumers.
Target Groups
- Adolescent girls (15–19) in secondary schools & TVETs
- Young women (20–35) in informal work, unemployed graduates, or displaced workers
- Women entrepreneurs seeking to integrate automation/AI into their businesses
Anticipated Outcomes (24 Months)
| Enhanced digital readiness | 3,000 women trained; 70% complete certification |
| Increased innovation | 50+ AI/robotics prototypes developed; 10 scaled |
| Improved job pathways | 40% of graduates employed, freelancing, or in tech startups |
| Policy influence | 5 counties adopt gender-inclusive digital skills targets |
| Shift in perception | 80% of participants report increased confidence in tech |
Sustainability & Scalability
- Train-the-Trainer: certify 100 women as “TechHer Ambassadors” to lead future cohorts.
- Hub ownership: transition hubs to local women’s cooperatives or SACCOs.
- Private sector partnerships: link graduates to internships with tech employers.
Alignment with National & Continental Agendas
- ✅ Kenya’s Digital Economy Blueprint (2022–2032)
- ✅ AU Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020–2030)
- ✅ Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 8 (Decent Work)
- ✅ NEPAD’s Science, Technology & Innovation Strategy
This project doesn’t just teach coding it reimagines who gets to shape Kenya’s technological future. By starting early, thinking systemically, and centering women as innovators, we ensure the digital revolution leaves no woman behind.
It cannot be overemphasized that digital skills will be crucial in the next 10 years, potentially determining economic opportunities for women.