The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has hosted a high-level regional consultative seminar in Nairobi, drawing government leaders, experts, and partners from across the Horn of Africa to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity can bolster security, cooperation, and resilience in the region.
Presiding over the opening ceremony, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo welcomed delegates to Nairobi and urged IGAD member states to work together in securing their digital future.
“As each of our member states pursues digital transformation, we must recognise that cyber threats are transnational. Misinformation, data breaches, cybercrime, and the misuse of AI tools are not problems any country can solve alone,” stated Kabogo.
The CS highlighted Kenya’s efforts to place digital transformation at the centre of national development, citing projects such as the Digital Superhighway, which aims to lay 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable across the country.
He also pointed to the recently launched Kenya National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030, which lays the groundwork for a responsible and inclusive AI ecosystem.
Further, Kabogo noted that Kenya has also implemented a robust National Cybersecurity Strategy and strengthened legal protections through its data protection laws and regulatory institutions.
“Our commitment is rooted in the belief that technology must not deepen inequalities. AI should not become the next racial or economic divide. Instead, it must become a bridge to opportunity, a tool to uplift every citizen, particularly women, youth, and marginalised communities,” he stressed.
Kabogo proposed the creation of a regional platform for secure threat intelligence sharing, joint training programmes through national institutions, and the establishment of a network of AI and cybersecurity research centres across IGAD countries.
“Let us, together, develop a shared roadmap for digital governance that secures our people, empowers innovation, and strengthens our security,” urged the CS.
On the other hand, IGAD Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu delivered a compelling keynote address, reminding participants that the region stands at a critical juncture.
“The future of security will be determined by how well nations harness the power of artificial intelligence and how quickly they respond to the growing risks in the digital domain,” he implored.
Dr Gebeyehu painted a vivid picture of how AI is already transforming law enforcement across IGAD states, citing Ethiopia’s use of predictive policing algorithms to tackle armed crime, Kenya’s AI-enabled ambulances that have improved response times by 40 percent, and Uganda’s national digital ID system, which enhances secure identity verification.
“Across our region, we face a multitude of security challenges, from terrorism and transnational crime to gaps in in-border management. But within these very challenges lie opportunities,” noted Dr Gebeyehu.
He warned that the region remains deeply vulnerable, as cyberattacks account for 68 percent of successful digital breaches across Africa, with Kenya alone losing over $83 million to cybercrime in 2023.
Dr Gebeyehu urged IGAD member states to adopt the Nairobi Commitment anchored on three pillars: harmonised security governance, massive investment in cyber talent, and indigenous AI innovation.
“Let us agree that by 2030, every IGAD citizen benefits from the promise of AI while being protected from digital threats. We must train cybersecurity professionals, support startups focused on regional challenges, and allocate at least 2 percent of national budgets to digital security,” he rallied.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Ambassador to Kenya Gunnar Andreas Holm delivered a sobering perspective from the global north, describing cybersecurity as an increasingly critical component of national defence.
He commended IGAD for its regional leadership and reiterated Norway’s support for the seminar and the broader Security Sector Program.
Holm shared that his country has revised its national cybersecurity strategy four times since 2003 to keep up with the speed of technological change.
“Just last week, our hydropower station was attacked remotely, causing the sluice gates to open. That tells you how vulnerable we all are,” he revealed.
Nevertheless, Ambassador Holm expressed hope that the forum would yield actionable outcomes, including a shared vision for regional AI governance rooted in human rights, transparency, and inclusivity.
“Norway is proud to stand with IGAD and its member states in this crucial journey. We remain committed as partners for peace, digital resilience, and inclusive innovation,” he said.
As deliberations continue over the three-day seminar, delegates are expected to finalise proposals for a regional AI and cybersecurity compact, strengthen data-sharing protocols, and develop frameworks for training and capacity-building.
By Fride Amiani and Brenda Oluoch
