Kenya is turning to an institution long associated with books and traditional learning to prepare citizens for a rapidly changing digital economy: the public library.

The country has partnered with Intel Corporation to expand artificial intelligence (AI) literacy through the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) under the AI for Citizens programme. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Mandela AI Hub Foundation and is designed to take foundational AI education beyond conventional classrooms and into communities.

The partnership comes at a time when Kenya is seeking to translate years of investment in digital infrastructure, technology and policy into tangible economic opportunities for its citizens.

The government has recently emphasized that Kenya's digital transformation must move beyond policies and platforms to produce measurable improvements in productivity, employment, enterprise growth and public services. Speaking at a forum on Kenya's digital and AI dividend, Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Stephen Isaboke said AI literacy and practical digital skills are needed among citizens, public servants, teachers, micro, small and medium enterprises and workers.

Against this backdrop, public libraries could become important access points for Kenyans who might otherwise struggle to find affordable opportunities to learn about AI.

Taking AI beyond the classroom

According to details released about the programme, participants will be able to access Intel's AI for Citizens and AI for Current Workforce courses through KNLS facilities. The first is designed for people without technical backgrounds and introduces basic AI concepts, misconceptions and practical applications. The workforce course targets people who have completed formal education and want to strengthen their use of technology in professional environments.

Although the courses are delivered online, facilitated sessions at KNLS facilities are intended to give participants opportunities for discussion, collaboration and peer learning. KNLS's network, including its mobile library services, could also help extend access beyond major urban centres.

This approach gives the library a role that goes beyond lending books. It positions the institution as part of the country's evolving digital learning infrastructure.

The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy has separately proposed transforming KNLS into a modern national digital knowledge institution aligned with Kenya's Digital Transformation Agenda. The proposed reforms include stronger digital services, cybersecurity and data protection, cloud-based systems and improved accessibility.

Why AI literacy matters

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a workplace issue rather than a technology confined to laboratories or specialist technology companies.

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, based on responses from more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies, found that 86 per cent of employers expect AI and information-processing technologies to transform their businesses by 2030. AI and big data were also identified among the fastest-growing skills.

The report also found that technological literacy, networks and cybersecurity, and AI and big data are expected to become increasingly important skills. At the same time, employers continue to value human capabilities such as analytical thinking, creativity, resilience and collaboration.

For Kenya, the implication is significant. Knowing how to use an AI tool is only one part of becoming AI literate. Citizens also need to understand the limitations of AI, verify information produced by automated systems, protect personal data and make informed decisions about when and how to use the technology.

This is particularly important as generative AI makes sophisticated digital tools easier for ordinary users to access.

From access to economic opportunity

Kenya already has a strong foundation for digital transformation. Its National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032, National E-Commerce Strategy 2023 and National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030 form part of the government's policy framework for developing the digital economy.

But policies alone cannot create an AI-ready population.

The real challenge is ensuring that students, job seekers, entrepreneurs, teachers, workers and communities can acquire practical skills and apply them to everyday problems.

A small business owner, for example, could use AI to assist with drafting marketing material, analysing customer feedback or developing ideas for reaching new markets. A student could use AI as a learning assistant while still verifying information independently. A journalist could use AI tools for research support while maintaining editorial judgement and verification. A farmer could potentially use digital tools to interpret information relevant to production and markets.

These examples illustrate why AI literacy is broader than learning how to operate a chatbot. It is about understanding technology well enough to use it responsibly and productively.

The World Economic Forum estimates that 59 out of every 100 workers will need training or retraining by 2030 as skills requirements change. Its research also identifies reskilling and upskilling as major responses to the expected transformation of work.

The library's new role

For Kenya's public libraries, the AI programme could represent a significant shift in purpose.

Libraries have traditionally served as places where people access books, information and educational resources. As information increasingly moves online, their relevance depends partly on their ability to help communities navigate that digital environment.

The Intel partnership therefore places libraries at an intersection between information access and technological education.

However, access to training will need to be accompanied by reliable connectivity, functioning computers, trained facilitators and sustained community engagement if the programme is to reach people who are currently excluded from digital opportunities.

The success of the initiative will ultimately depend not on how many people encounter AI, but on how many can use it meaningfully and responsibly.

Kenya's latest move sends a clear message: AI literacy cannot remain the preserve of technology professionals or university classrooms. If the country wants its digital investments to generate wider economic value, ordinary citizens need a pathway into the AI economy.

And increasingly, that pathway may begin not in a technology laboratory, but in the public library.