Facebook parent company, Meta, has unveiled AI Academy Kenya, a capacity-building initiative that is designed to offer students in Kenya with future-ready artificial intelligence skills.

The program, which was launched last week targets developers, startups, small business owners, and career professionals with practical AI skills that can help them embrace AI economy opportunities.

In a statement, Meta said it will implement the program in partnership with African AI accelerator, This Is Digital, to help advance the continent's digital economy. 

The tech giant said the initiative combines hands-on developer training, startup acceleration, and immersive AI Masterclasses to nurture the next generation of local AI talent. 

The program will be divided into two sections, AI Pitchathon, where we are calling Kenyan startups or developers who are building innovative solutions with Meta’s AI technologies to pitch their solutions live in Nairobi, Kenya and compete for equity-free funding and an invitation to pitch at Meta’s AI Summit in Istanbul, Turkiyë in November 2026.

AI Masterclass then kicks off for eight weeks where the curriculum will cover AI fundamentals, prompt engineering, AI for research and knowledge work, Ai for documents, reporting and communication, AI for productivity and much more.

The landmark partnership pairs Meta’s AI tools with This Is Digital’s deep expertise in workforce enablement and AI transformation. Founded on International AI Appreciation Day 2025, This Is Digital has already trained over 800 AI Champions across 10+ countries, demystifying AI and delivering tailored consultancy and masterclasses for individuals and enterprises.

"The next wave of AI innovation in Kenya will come from local builders solving local problems," said Mercy Ndegwa, Public Policy Director, East Africa at Meta. "That is why we are working with This Is Digital to put practical training and open models in the hands of Kenyan developers, students and small business owners, so that what gets built here is designed for this market by the people who understand it best."

"Our mission has always been to ensure everyone across Africa gets a seat at the AI table," said Gregory Wanjama, CEO of This Is Digital. "Partnering with Meta allows us to scale our impact, empowering Kenyan professionals, startups, and students with actionable skills to drive real-world productivity, innovation, and economic growth."

Grace Murugi, Chief AI & Digital Strategist at This Is Digital, added, "By translating complex AI concepts into accessible applications and emphasizing ethical, responsible leadership, this academy will enable Kenya's ecosystem to create homegrown intellectual property that competes globally."

Applications for the AI Pitchathon are open. The deadline for the AI Pitchathon is 30th September 2026 and it will take place on October 15, 2026. The AI Masterclass applications are open. The deadline for the AI Masterclass is 31st October 2026 and it kicks off on November 3rd 2026.