Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has delivered a stark message to the nation: embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) or become irrelevant. Speaking at a technology forum in Nairobi, Mudavadi framed the adoption of AI not as a luxury, but as a matter of national security and economic survival.

The PCS noted that the dual threats of cyber-terrorism and economic stagnation can only be countered if Kenya becomes a "Silicon Savannah" in practice, not just in name. "In the hands of a terrorist, ICT is a weapon. In our hands, it must be a shield and a plow," he stated.

The Strategic Imperative

Mudavadi revealed that Al-Shabaab and other extremist groups are already experimenting with AI to generate propaganda and recruit youth. To counter this, Kenya is deepening cooperation with global tech giants and the UN's Counter-Terrorism Committee.

• Economic Engine: Beyond security, Mudavadi emphasized that AI is the key to unlocking efficiency in agriculture and healthcare. He cited the potential for AI-driven weather forecasting to mitigate the drought cycles hurting the economy.
• The Education Gap: He challenged universities to overhaul their curriculums. "We cannot teach 20th-century skills for a 21st-century economy," he warned. The government is planning a Digital Literacy 2.0 program to equip schools with AI-ready tools.
• Data Sovereignty: Mudavadi also touched on the need for Kenya to own its data, warning against "digital colonialism" where foreign AI models harvest Kenyan data without benefit to the locals.

The Future is Now

The message is clear: the AI revolution is leaving the station. Kenya can either be a passenger or a driver. Mudavadi’s push suggests the government is finally ready to take the wheel.