World Bank warns AI could widen Kenya’s worker divide without better internet and skills

Kenya could see widening income inequality as artificial intelligence expands, warns a World Bank report released in October 2026. The Africa Economic Update identifies AI adoption in the East African nation as early and uneven, with gaps in internet connectivity, electricity, skills, data and computing infrastructure. While AI could boost productivity and open new economic opportunities, the report estimates that 88% of Kenyan workers are in occupations with low exposure to generative AI.

For businesses, AI tools may aid tasks like drafting documents, analyzing information, responding to customers, and organizing operations, but the benefits hinge on workers' skills and access. Higher-income workers stand to gain more, with over a third expected to benefit from AI assistance, compared to just 4% of those in the lowest income quintile.

The disparity highlights concerns that AI could exacerbate existing economic inequalities. Connectivity and digital training are crucial for Kenyan workers to leverage AI effectively, as those with reliable internet, suitable devices, and training are better positioned to use the technology to save time or improve their work. Gender also plays a role, with women more likely to be in AI-exposed occupations outside agriculture, such as clerical work, customer service, and retail.

The World Bank emphasizes the importance of making training and reskilling opportunities accessible to workers facing changes in their occupations. The region's AI opportunity hinges on strengthening foundations, including affordable internet, relevant skills, locally useful data, and adequate computing capacity. For Kenya, this means ensuring small businesses, farmers, informal workers, and those outside major urban centers can access useful and affordable AI applications.

Ultimately, Kenya's long-term AI potential will depend on whether the technology expands economic opportunities for people across income groups, rather than just the number of organizations experimenting with new tools.