Kenya partners with Intel to expand AI literacy through public libraries

Kenya is expanding access to artificial-intelligence education through its public library network, in a partnership involving Intel, the Kenya National Library Service and the Mandela AI Hub Foundation. The programme is intended to make basic AI knowledge available beyond universities, private training centres and technology companies.

The initiative will use library branches and mobile library units to reach people in communities that may not have regular access to specialist learning facilities. Training is expected to cover the fundamentals of AI, common misconceptions and practical uses in work and everyday life. Intel’s AI for Citizens and AI for Current Workforce courses are part of the programme.

The choice of libraries is strategically important. Libraries already function as trusted public learning spaces, and their physical reach gives the programme a route into smaller towns and underserved communities. That can make AI literacy less dependent on income, location or an individual’s connection to the technology sector.

Kenya’s wider AI strategy depends on more than a small pool of engineers. Citizens, teachers, public servants and small businesses also need enough understanding to use AI safely, assess its limitations and recognise when automated outputs require human judgement. Public access points can help build that baseline.

The programme also raises a question about measurement. A successful literacy campaign should not be judged only by the number of people who complete a course. It should show whether participants can apply the knowledge to improve work, make better decisions and avoid harmful or misleading uses of AI.

By placing AI education inside existing public infrastructure, Kenya is treating digital capability as a civic resource. The approach could offer a useful model for other African countries looking for practical ways to widen participation in the AI economy.

Source: https://techtrendske.co.ke/2026/09/01/free-ai-training-kenya-public-libraries/