Tech Community in Kenya Criticizes AI Regulation Efforts

Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Grace Ashiru
Published on 2024-02-18 18:11:51

The proposed 2023 Robotics and AI Society Bill in Kenya has elicited strong opposition from industry professionals and experts, with calls for its dismissal by the National Assembly. Members of the IT sector and the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) have raised significant concerns, particularly regarding the lack of stakeholder engagement and the potential negative impact on innovation within the technology sector.

On International Safer Internet Day, Alex Gakuru, a prominent IT specialist in Kenya and the Center for Law in Information Technology Director, along with other experts from AMCHAM, presented their case to the National Assembly’s Communication, Information, and Innovation (CII) committee. They highlighted major flaws in the bill, emphasizing the failure to involve stakeholders from the AI and robotics sectors in its formulation.

The bill, if passed, would require all entities to register with the newly proposed Robotics Society of Kenya (RSK), with penalties for non-compliance including a fine of KES 1 million or approximately USD 6,000, two-year imprisonment, or both. Gakuru expressed concerns that the legislation disproportionately focuses on the robotics industry, neglecting crucial aspects of artificial intelligence. He also emphasized the risk of potential legal challenges due to the bill’s poorly drafted content, calling for its retraction and further engagement with industry stakeholders.

Kenya’s position in the AI sector has also been a point of concern, as it currently ranks fifth in Africa according to the 2022 Government AI Readiness Index. Despite government investment of USD 81.5 million over ten years in AI, the country still lags behind others such as South Africa and Nigeria. Elizabeth Mutua, a faculty member at Dedan Kimathi School of Computer, highlighted additional challenges, including the lack of public data sets for AI development and the absence of a legal framework to oversee AI and robotics in the nation.

This sentiment has been echoed by AI Kenya, an independent initiative that promotes data science and robotics growth, which has described the bill as a significant impediment to innovation and development within Kenya’s tech ecosystem. There are widespread concerns within the industry that the proposed regulations could stifle innovation rather than encourage growth in the thriving technology sector.

In response to the growing opposition, Dagoreti South Member of Parliament John Kiarie, who chairs the CII committee, has pledged to consider the feedback from stakeholders during the bill’s public consultation phase. As Kenya seeks to strike a balance between regulation and innovation in the AI and robotics field, the outcome of the proposed bill remains uncertain.

It is evident that the proposed bill has sparked controversy within the technology industry in Kenya, with stakeholders and experts expressing strong objections. It is essential for the government to carefully consider the concerns raised and engage in meaningful dialogue with industry professionals to ensure that any regulatory measures support and nurture innovation rather than stifle it.