Kenya must act fast to avoid being left behind in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, National Assembly Communication, Information and Innovation Committee Chair John Kiarie has warned.

Speaking during the 3rd Leadership Retreat of the National Assembly in Mombasa on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Kiarie called for the creation of a Parliamentary Office on Science and Technology to guide the country through the opportunities and risks posed by AI and other emerging technologies.

“Are we playing catch-up to a horse that has already bolted? If so, how do we find our footing in this new world?” he asked.

He noted that AI is already shaping key sectors, citing innovations such as the Plant Village Nuru app that helps farmers detect pests and breakthroughs in medicine where AI enables remote or even autonomous surgeries.

Unchecked AI use

At the same time, Kiarie warned of the dangers of unchecked AI use, particularly its role in spreading misinformation.

He recalled the 2024 Finance Bill protests, where Parliament faced backlash fuelled by false information magnified by automated online systems.

“In June 2024, Parliament was under attack because of misinformation surrounding the Finance Bill. Content that never existed in the bill was magnified online by automated systems, and Members of Parliament had no right of reply,” Kiarie stated.

Drawing parallels with the global urgency to regulate nuclear weapons in the 1940s, Kiarie stressed that AI poses similar high-stakes challenges.

According to the Dagoretti South lawmaker, unchecked technological advances could disrupt lawmaking, healthcare, communication, and even cultural preservation.

MPs’ recommendations

As a result, the parliamentary committee has now recommended the establishment of a Parliamentary Office on Science and Technology, the creation of a joint AI committee between the National Assembly and Senate with input from academia and the private sector, and capacity building for Members of Parliament to enhance their understanding of emerging technologies.

Kiarie also pointed out Kenya’s lag in AI preparedness compared to global powers.

He further cautioned that Africa risks cultural erasure if local languages and traditions are not integrated into AI systems.

“If we do not feed our culture and languages into these algorithms, then we are excluded from the Fourth Industrial Revolution without even knowing it,” he cautioned.

Kenya currently operates under the Data Protection Act, but Kiarie argued its safeguards are insufficient in the face of new AI-driven threats. He referenced the Worldcoin biometric data controversy as proof that existing laws are easily bypassed.