East Africa Leaders Push Ethical AI, Regional Unity

Leaders from government, industry, and academia gathered at the Kigali Convention Centre for the fourth East African Community Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Conference, calling for ethical AI governance frameworks and stronger regional collaboration. Microsoft's Malcolm Kijirah urged policymakers to balance ethical risk management with innovation-friendly environments, advocating for data sovereignty rooted in accountability rather than restrictive localization rules. Participants emphasized a multistakeholder approach involving governments, private sector, universities, and civil society to build inclusive AI frameworks. Skills development was identified as critical, with ongoing initiatives targeting digital and AI training for youth and professionals across the region.