Kenya: Artificial Intelligence Bill, including AI authority governance was introduced to Senate

On 19 February 2026, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bill, including AI authority governance was introduced to the Senate. The Act seeks to establish a framework for the regulation and governance of AI, applying to providers, deployers, and users of AI systems. The Act aims to ensure ethical, transparent, and accountable AI use, foster innovation, safeguard human rights and data protection and promote AI literacy, and align with international standards. The Act establishes governance bodies including the Office of the Artificial Intelligence Commissioner, and an Advisory Committee comprising representatives from government, regulators, the private sector, and civil society to advise on AI risks, standards, research, and workforce transition, while the Commissioner is mandated to issue ethical guidelines and oversee compliance. The Act further empowers the Cabinet Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner, to issue regulations and conduct periodic reviews of the law. It also introduces offences for non-compliance, including the deployment of prohibited or high-risk AI without safeguards, failure to meet transparency or assessment obligations, misuse of synthetic media without consent, and obstruction of regulatory functions, with penalties of up to KES 5 million or two years’ imprisonment for serious violations, and up to KES 1 million or six months’ imprisonment for lesser offences, including liability for corporate officers.