Meta and African AI accelerator This Is Digital have introduced AI Academy Kenya, a new programme aimed at building practical artificial intelligence skills among Kenyan students, developers, startups, small business owners and professionals. Officially launched on September 11, the academy combines developer training, startup acceleration and AI Masterclasses as part of an effort to expand access to AI skills and support locally developed technology solutions.
Programme Overview
• Lead partners: Meta and This Is Digital, an African AI accelerator.
• Official launch date: September 11.
• Target audience: Kenyan students, developers, startups, small business owners and professionals.
• Core objective: build practical artificial intelligence skills and support locally developed technology solutions.
• Delivery model: combines developer training, startup acceleration and AI Masterclasses.
• Main components: an AI Pitchathon for Kenyan startups and developers, and an eight-week AI Masterclass covering practical applications of artificial intelligence.
AI Pitchathon Details
• Application status: currently open.
• Application deadline: September 30, 2026.
• Competition date and location: October 15, 2026, in Nairobi.
• Participant opportunity: selected participants will present solutions built using Meta's AI technologies.
• Prize focus: winners will compete for equity-free funding and an invitation to pitch at Meta's AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, in November 2026.
AI Masterclass Details
• Start date: November 3, 2026.
• Duration: eight weeks.
• Application deadline: October 31, 2026.
• Curriculum areas: AI fundamentals; prompt engineering; AI for research and knowledge work; AI applications for documents, reporting and communication; and AI-powered productivity.
Partner and Leadership Perspectives
• Mercy Ndegwa, Public Policy Director, East Africa at Meta, said local developers play an important role in shaping Kenya's AI ecosystem and added: 'That is why we are working with This Is Digital to put practical training and open models in the hands of Kenyan developers, students and small business owners, so that what gets built here is designed for this market by the people who understand it best.'
• Gregory Wanjama, CEO of This Is Digital, said the organisation's mission is to ensure everyone across Africa gets a seat at the AI table, adding: 'Partnering with Meta allows us to scale our impact, empowering Kenyan professionals, startups, and students with actionable skills to drive real-world productivity, innovation, and economic growth.'
• Grace Murugi, Chief AI & Digital Strategist at This Is Digital, noted the academy would place emphasis on responsible use of AI alongside technical skills, saying: 'By translating complex AI concepts into accessible applications and emphasizing ethical, responsible leadership, this academy will enable Kenya's ecosystem to create homegrown intellectual property that competes globally.'
• Collaboration background: This Is Digital was founded on International AI Appreciation Day in 2025 and says it has trained more than 800 AI Champions across over 10 countries.
Through the AI Academy Kenya, Meta and This Is Digital are positioning practical AI education and local innovation as key areas of focus, while creating opportunities for Kenyan developers and startups to develop solutions for both local and international markets.