Kenyan information technology (IT) professionals have raised concerns over the 2023 Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Society Bill, urging the country’s parliament to reject it due to several perceived shortcomings.
During a session by the National Assembly’s Communication, Information, and Innovation Committee on International Safer Internet Day in 2024, stakeholders in the AI and robotics fields highlighted their exclusion from the bill drafting process. They emphasized that key voices from the industry were not consulted during the formulation of the legislation.
The bill proposes that entities operating in the robotics and AI sectors must register with the Robotics Society of Kenya (RSK) to avoid penalties. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to one million Kenyan shillings ($6,269) and a potential two-year prison sentence. The RSK would act as a regulatory body overseeing sector development and ensuring compliance with established rules and guidelines.
Alex Gakuru, director of the Center for Law in Information Technology and head of the American Chamber of Commerce, Kenya, emphasized the need for additional consultation with stakeholders before enacting the bill. He criticized the legislation for disproportionately focusing on regulating the robotics sector while neglecting broader AI concerns. Gakuru warned that the bill, if passed in its current form, could lead to legal challenges and potentially result in a national disaster.
Despite the proposed legislation, Kenya has demonstrated readiness to implement AI in public service delivery. However, the country lags behind other African nations like Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, and Morocco in AI readiness, according to the Government AI Readiness Index. Kenya’s investment in AI, estimated at 13 billion shillings ($81.5 million), is considerably lower than that of countries like South Africa and Nigeria.
Kenyan IT professionals’ opposition to the Robotics and AI Society Bill underscores the importance of comprehensive stakeholder engagement and careful consideration of regulatory frameworks to foster innovation while addressing societal concerns. As Kenya seeks to harness the potential of AI and robotics, a balanced approach that accounts for industry input and regulatory clarity is crucial for sustainable development in these sectors.
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