Nairobi, Kenya — February 12, 2026 The Nairobi AI Forum 2026 has concluded as a seminal event marking Africa’s accelerated integration into the global AI landscape. Over 500 stakeholders, including government representatives, private sector leaders, researchers, and international organizations, gathered to discuss the transformative potential of AI in addressing critical challenges on the continent. Held on February 9th and 10th, the forum underscored the role of AI in fostering sustainable development, economic growth, and technological sovereignty.
One of the highlights was the allocation of 1. 5 million GPU hours to 130 African innovators, a move facilitated by the AI Hub for Sustainable Development and Cineca. This initiative is aimed at promoting locally-driven AI solutions, such as voice AI in native languages and climate-focused applications.
Italian Minister of University and Research, Senator Anna Maria Bernini, emphasized the strategic importance of strengthening skills, training, and research to support innovation and inclusive progress in Africa.
The Nairobi AI Forum is a part of the Mattei Plan for Africa, a comprehensive strategy by Italy to enhance cooperation in various sectors. Ambassador Vincenzo Del Monaco, Italy’s Ambassador to Kenya, highlighted the transition from dialogue to delivery, noting significant achievements such as GPU hour distribution and strategic credits from AWS and Microsoft.
The AI Hub for Sustainable Development, launched in Rome in 2025, serves as a cornerstone in these efforts. Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, described the partnership between Kenya and Italy as a “defining phase “that transcends traditional aid, aiming at co-creating future economic capability. Officials commented on the matter.
The AI 10 Billion Initiative, co-designed with the African Development Bank, and the launch of the Harmonic Africa Startup Acceleration Programme were central to the forum’s momentum.
The AI 10 Billion Initiative aims to generate up to 45 million jobs by 2035 through a US$10 billion investment in AI entrepreneurship.
The forum also unveiled a space — enabled AI collaboration involving the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture, Kenyan Space Agency, Italian Space Agency, NASA Harvest, Microsoft, and food security bodies.
This initiative aims to build geospatial data foundations for resilient agriculture, utilizing AI to map crops, forecast yields, and detect climate risks.
The Cyber 4. 0 and AI Hub partnership, in collaboration with the Cisco Cybersecurity Training Center in Nairobi, launched a cybersecurity readiness programme for African AI startups, emphasizing secure-by-design AI and talent development.
The Nairobi AI Forum 2026 strategically positions Africa on the global AI stage, aligning with the Italy–Africa Summit in Ethiopia and the AI Impact Summit in India. Kenya’s ICT Cabinet Secretary, William Kabogo Gitau, emphasized the importance of building scalable ecosystems that translate AI potential into tangible progress for people and the planet.
The forum has not only reinforced Nairobi’s status as a fintech and tech hub but also solidified the city’s role in capital structuring and regulatory clarity, further unlocking innovation and investment.
Further details are expected as the continent embarks on this unprecedented growth trajectory that aligns technological advancement with sustainable and inclusive development goals.
