Kenya Opens Parliamentary Inquiry into AI Use in Schools and Hospitals

The Communication, Information and Innovation Committee in the Kenyan National Assembly has launched a month-long inquiry into the extent of artificial intelligence adoption in the education and health sectors, aiming to draft standalone legislation to regulate it, according to the Daily Nation newspaper.

Officials from the Ministries of Education and Health are expected to appear before the committee chaired by MP John Kiarie. The committee is addressing concerns related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and academic integrity, as well as the extent to which artificial intelligence contributes to economic development and the improvement of public services.

MP David Ochieng, who chaired the session on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, stated that legislation should not be rushed, calling for listening to lawmakers and stakeholders to draft coherent legislation that cannot be challenged in court. Meanwhile, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah emphasized the priority of education and health due to the prevalence of AI in them.

MP Millie Odhiambo, a PhD researcher, raised the necessity of addressing the ethical use of artificial intelligence, while MP Kimani Kuria argued that technology should not be viewed as a threat, but rather integrated in a way that preserves the values of work and study. The 2022 AI Readiness Report ranked Kenya fifth in Africa and 90th globally, with a readiness score of 40.3%.

What do these terms mean?

Parliamentary Committee: A group of lawmakers tasked by parliament to study a specific topic and prepare a report and recommendations on it.

Data Privacy: The right of individuals to protect their personal information and prevent its collection or use without permission.

Academic Integrity: A principle ensuring that a student's or researcher's work is their own creation, not copied from sources without attribution or falsely attributed.