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Kenya is rapidly establishing itself as a premier destination in the Global Business Services (GBS) market, attracting over $500 million USD in annual revenues. According to Sama AI CEO Wendy Gonzalez, projections indicate that more than half of these revenues, approximately $254 million USD, will come from business process outsourcing (BPO) in 2024.
Kenya’s Competitive Edge in GBS
Kenya’s appeal as an investment destination in the competitive GBS market, which includes BPO as a submarket, is on the rise. BPO has expanded to encompass AI supply chain providers like Sama. Speaking at the University of Nairobi during a public lecture on Generative AI, Gonzalez highlighted that the GBS market reached $1 trillion USD in revenues last year.
Countries like South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco are also key players in this maturing market. With $500 million in GBS revenues, Kenya leads among emerging GBS destinations, including Senegal, Nigeria, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Ghana.
Gonzalez projected that Kenya will become the leading provider of digital work opportunities, positively impacting the local economy.
The Role of Digital Skills
Gonzalez emphasized the importance of digital skills, forecasting that by 2030, 50-55% of jobs in Kenya will require such skills. However, significant gaps remain, particularly in rural areas and among women.
To address this, Sama has partnered with the University of Nairobi to advance AI skills, marking one of the first collaborations of its kind in Kenya.
Government and Academic Support
State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui and University of Nairobi Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Margaret Hutchinson also spoke at the lecture.
Tanui stressed the current reality of AI, noting its potential to add between $2.6 and $4.4 trillion USD annually to the global economy. The Kenyan government is establishing policies and frameworks to foster innovation, invest in research and development, and ensure ethical AI development and usage.
Prof. Hutchinson highlighted the University of Nairobi’s commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring graduates are prepared for the digital economy.
The partnership between Sama and the University of Nairobi aims to advance Generative AI capabilities in Kenya and Africa, providing part-time employment opportunities for faculty and students and equipping them with practical experience in GenAI
