Meta has partnered with African artificial intelligence accelerator This Is Digital to launch the AI Academy Kenya, a flagship programme aimed at equipping Kenyan students, developers, startups, small business owners and professionals with practical artificial intelligence skills.
The programme, officially launched on September 11, 2026, brings together Meta’s AI technologies and This Is Digital’s expertise in workforce development and AI transformation to strengthen Kenya’s growing digital economy.
The academy will combine hands-on developer training, startup acceleration, and immersive AI Masterclasses, with the goal of nurturing local talent capable of developing AI solutions for both Kenyan and global markets.
The programme will be delivered through two key components: an AI Pitchathon and an eight-week AI Masterclass.
The AI Pitchathon is targeting Kenyan startups and developers building innovative solutions using Meta’s AI technologies. Selected participants will pitch their solutions live in Nairobi on October 15, 2026, with opportunities to compete for equity-free funding.
The winning innovators will also receive an invitation to pitch at Meta’s AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, in November 2026, providing them with an opportunity to showcase Kenyan innovation on an international platform.
Applications for the Pitchathon are currently open, with the deadline set for September 30, 2026. The second component, the AI Masterclass, will provide an eight-week learning programme beginning November 3, 2026.
The curriculum will cover AI fundamentals, prompt engineering, AI for research and knowledge work, AI applications for documents, reporting and communication, as well as AI for productivity.
Applications for the Masterclass will remain open until October 31, 2026.
The partnership builds on the work of This Is Digital, which was founded on International AI Appreciation Day in 2025. The organisation has since trained more than 800 AI Champions across more than 10 countries, providing AI consultancy, masterclasses, and workforce enablement programmes.
Mercy Ndegwa, Public Policy Director, East Africa at Meta, said the next phase of AI innovation in Kenya would be driven by local developers addressing local challenges.
According to Ndegwa, the partnership will help put practical training and open AI models in the hands of Kenyan developers, students, and small business owners.
Gregory Wanjama, CEO of This Is Digital, said the partnership reflects the organisation’s mission of ensuring Africans have opportunities to participate meaningfully in the AI economy.
He said the academy would empower Kenyan professionals, startups, and students with actionable skills to improve productivity, drive innovation, and contribute to economic growth.
Grace Murugi, Chief AI & Digital Strategist at This Is Digital, said the academy will focus on making complex AI concepts accessible while promoting ethical and responsible leadership.
She added that the programme would enable Kenya’s technology ecosystem to develop homegrown intellectual property capable of competing globally.
Interested applicants can register for the AI Pitchathon and AI Masterclass through the programme’s official registration platform.