“Technology best serves humanity when we as humanity guide its development. “
• The most respected Hon. William Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy of the Republic of Kenya and our gracious Host;
• Your Excellency, Gunnar Andreas Holm, Ambassador of Norway to the Republic of Kenya and our most valued development partner;
• Respected IGAD colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
• All protocols observed;
It is a real honour to speak with all of you today about artificial intelligence and the way this transformative force holds immense potential for our region and its critical role in enhancing security within our law enforcement agencies.
We gather just 60 kilometres and only 60 minutes from Konza Technopolis, our region’s Silicon Savannah and a testament to our continent’s digital ambitions and our determination to shape our technological destiny.
Across our IGAD region, we face complex security challenges, and these range from transnational crime and terrorism to cybercrime and border management gaps. Nevertheless, even within these challenges lies the opportunity for innovation through AI and cybersecurity solutions.
I have said it before, and please allow me to say it once again: the future of regional security belongs to those who harness artificial intelligence. In this regard, I challenge us all to become active architects of our region’s digital security future.
In this future I can say without fear of contradiction, that humanity will be divided not in terms of race and cultural diversity; not only black or white or brown but it will be between those of us who know how to use AI and those that do not. AI is the new divide between the literate and the illiterate.
Join me as we together imagine AI systems that help our law enforcement predict crime patterns, optimise resource deployment, and detect threats before time. Picture with me as AI- powered platforms improve border management and create safer, more connected communities.
Excellencies,
Technology is already transforming security across our region. In Ethiopia, law enforcement agencies are implementing predictive policing algorithms to combat urban crime. Here in Kenya, AI-driven surveillance systems have reduced police response times by 40% and improved crime detection by 30%.
In Uganda, National Digital ID systems are enabling enhanced identity verification for security agencies, while beyond our region, Rwanda’s police force has become a regional model for AI-integrated community policing. In our own headquarters in the Republic of Djibouti, AI-powered port security systems are enhancing maritime safety across the Red Sea corridor.
In spite of these positive developments, we continue to face serious challenges. Cyberattacks account for 68% of successful breaches across our African continent.
Our host country today, Kenya, alone lost over 83 million dollars to cybercrime in 2023, while attacks on government security systems increased by 45% year-on-year.
It is very evident that criminal networks are increasingly targeting law enforcement databases, while terrorist organisations are are exploiting our weak digital defences.
In response, I say that if we act decisively, the IGAD region and the Greater Horn of Africa can lead in responsible AI deployment for security. By 2035, AI could contribute 180 billion dollars to our regional GDP while creating 2.5 million jobs, including critical cybersecurity roles.
Our Strategic Vision
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
AI allows us to break down silos. By sharing data responsibly across borders, we as IGAD member states can collaborate effectively on cross-border crime surveillance, regional intelligence sharing, and protecting critical infrastructure.
However, the projections show that we need 500,000 AI and cybersecurity professionals by 2030, and yet we are training fewer than 15,000 annually. This skills gap is a serious threat to our digital sovereignty and national security.
The 3 principles of our commitment
Therefore in order to harness AI’s promise while guarding against its perils, I propose the following 3 principles for your consideration:
First, Harmonised Security Governance. We must establish regional AI ethics protocols for law enforcement, shared cybersecurity standards, and cross-border incident response mechanisms. A regional AI strategy based on our Member States’ data protection legislation provides models for balancing innovation with security.
Second, Massive Investment in Security Professionals. Let us launch the IGAD Digital Security Skills Initiative, training cybersecurity experts and establishing AI centres of excellence in each member state, with special focus on law enforcement applications.
Third, Indigenous Security Innovation. I call upon us to create the IGAD AI Security Innovation Fund that shall support startups to address our unique regional challenges, ranging from from border monitoring to anti-terrorism intelligence.
Our Nairobi Commitment
From this meeting, I further propose we adopt the “Nairobi Commitment,” which states that by 2030, every IGAD citizen benefits from AI-enhanced security while being protected from digital threats.
This means governments allocating at least 2% of budgets to AI security infrastructure, private sector committing to local talent development, and development partners providing technology transfer for our law enforcement agencies.
Excellencies,
We stand at a digital crossroads. One path leads to AI amplifying our security capabilities, where every police officer accesses real-time intelligence, every border is monitored by smart systems, and our citizens are protected by predictive security measures.
The other path leads to digital colonialism, where our security data enriches distant corporations while cyber threats cripple our progress.
Our young digital entrepreneurs are watching us. They ask not for promises, but partnership. Not for charity, but opportunity. Not for dependency, but digital sovereignty.
From Djibouti’s strategic infrastructure to Uganda’s innovation hubs, from Ethiopia’s AI innovation to Kenya and Somalia’s mobile money success, we have proof of what’s possible when African ingenuity meets technological opportunity.
Let this seminar be remembered not for problems discussed, but for security solutions committed to implementation. The future of Greater Horn security will be written by decisions we make in this room.
Together, we can transform AI challenges into opportunities and harness technology as a force for our collective security, human dignity, and regional prosperity.
Thank you all very much.
Download the attached speech in PDF.
