At a Glance
- Safaricom commits $500 million to build AI infrastructure across East Africa over three years.
- Focus on homegrown AI tech addressing local languages, agriculture, healthcare, and fintech challenges.
- Investment aims to disrupt legacy systems and accelerate inclusive regional digital growth.
East Africa is poised for a tech revolution as Safaricom, the region’s largest telecom giant, announced a landmark $500 million investment to build cutting-edge AI infrastructure in Africa.
The initiative aims to position East Africa at the forefront of the continent’s burgeoning artificial intelligence landscape, driving scalable AI applications that address critical sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and fintech.
This ambitious commitment was unveiled by Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Kropac, during the Connected Africa Summit 2025 in Diani, Kenya — underscoring the company’s strategic role in Africa’s accelerating digital transformation.
Disrupting legacy systems to drive inclusive growth
“Africa has a unique chance to chart its own AI future,” Kropac stated during her keynote, Building the Rails for AI: Laying the Foundations for Africa’s Intelligent Economy.
She stressed the importance of moving beyond mere adoption of Western AI models to fostering homegrown technologies that address Africa’s diverse languages, cultural context, and data ecosystems.
Safaricom’s strategy revolves around developing robust data infrastructure and driving harmonized digital regulations across East African markets.
The company has already upskilled more than 5,000 employees in AI fundamentals, preparing to integrate machine learning and automation across its telecom services and enterprise solutions.
Kropac highlighted AI’s transformative potential to tackle region-specific challenges such as climate-resilient agriculture, multilingual digital education platforms, and mobile-first health diagnostics.
“Just as mobile technology leapfrogged fixed lines, AI will disrupt legacy systems and accelerate Africa’s economic advancement,” she added.
Safaricom’s role in shaping East Africa’s digital future
Under the leadership of CEO Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom has aggressively diversified its digital portfolio.
The company reported a 15 percent year-over-year revenue increase to Ksh 189.42 billion ($1.47 billion) in H1 2025, fueled by robust growth in mobile data and fintech services, including enhanced credit products for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
With this $500 million AI infrastructure investment, Safaricom is redefining its role—from telecom operator to a key architect of East Africa’s thriving digital economy, driving innovation and inclusive growth across the continent.
