UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund. Photo | courtesy.
The British High Commission in Nairobi has launched the second round of the UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund, offering a financial lifeline to Kenyan innovators developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions targeting the country’s most urgent social and economic challenges.
Announced just weeks after the unveiling of Kenya’s National AI Strategy 2025–2030, the initiative deepens strategic collaboration between the United Kingdom and Kenya while positioning the country as a regional leader in ethical AI innovation.
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The fund will provide grants of up to Sh2 million per project and is open to applications from individuals, startups, academic institutions, and research organizations. All submissions must be made by May 18, 2025.
“This Challenge Fund is not just a funding mechanism; it’s a bridge between talent and opportunity,” said British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan. “By combining the UK’s AI expertise with Kenya’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, we are investing in solutions that have the potential to transform lives.”
To qualify, applicants must partner with a UK entity and align their solutions with the core pillars of Kenya’s AI strategy, including responsible data usage, talent development, algorithmic transparency, and robust governance frameworks.
Projects will be evaluated for their originality, scalability, and ethical alignment, with particular emphasis on use cases that promote inclusion and impact.
Sectors prioritized under the Challenge Fund include agriculture, healthcare, education, financial services, public safety, MSME support, service delivery, creative industries, and climate action.
The fund, established under the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership Framework, builds on growing bilateral cooperation in technology and innovation. In its first round, the fund supported groundbreaking solutions in agri-tech and digital health, with several projects now scaling nationally and receiving private sector investment.
Industry experts say this second round could act as a springboard for Kenya’s AI ecosystem, particularly in light of the government’s recent move to operationalize the National Taskforce on AI and Emerging Technologies. The strategy’s vision to build a digitally inclusive society powered by ethical AI requires sustainable financing and knowledge partnerships, both of which the Challenge Fund hopes to catalyze.
“This funding is timely,” said Dr. Grace Githiri, an AI researcher at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). “It targets innovators when they’re still building and testing ideas, when a little support can make the difference between stagnation and scale.”
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Kenya’s AI policy calls for greater public-private collaboration to close data gaps, democratize access to computing infrastructure, and develop AI talent from the grassroots. By requiring a UK-Kenyan partnership, the Challenge Fund aims to promote cross-border learning while empowering local ownership of emerging technologies.
As the May 18 deadline nears, the British High Commission urges prospective applicants to visit the Challenge Fund portal for guidelines, eligibility criteria, and proposal templates. Shortlisted teams will undergo a pitch and mentorship process before the final selection.
