Kenyan IT Experts Call for Rejection of 2023 Robotics and AI Society Bill
Summary:
Kenyan IT experts have called on the Parliament to reject the Robotics and AI Society Bill 2023, citing significant shortcomings and lack of consultation. During a session marking International Safer Internet Day, they told the National Assembly’s CII committee the bill placed excessive emphasis on robotics while inadequately addressing AI concerns. The bill proposes penalties for unregistered AI and robotics entities. Alex Gakuru, the head of the Center for Law in Information Technology, suggested the bill should be withdrawn for further stakeholder consultation.
IT professionals in Kenya have appealed to the country's Parliament to discard the 2023 Robotics and AI Society Bill, attributing their concerns to several glaring inadequacies. These specialists shared their views with the National Assembly’s Communication, Information, and Innovation (CII) committee, led by John Kiarie, the MP for Dagoreti South, during a gathering scheduled on International Safer Internet Day, as reported by local press. They communicated to the committee that individuals and organisations in the AI and robotics industry were not involved in the creation of the bill at any point.
The Kenya Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Society Bill 2023 identifies entities as unlicensed if they haven't registered their AI and robotics operations with the Robotics Society of Kenya (RSK), as mentioned in the legislation. This proposed law intends to impose penalties — fines up to $6,269 (KES 1 million), potential imprisonment for two years, or both — on unlicensed groups partaking in AI and robotics businesses, if they fail to register with the RSK. The proposed RSK is set to regulate, aid in the expansion of the AI and robotics sector by developing regulations and guides in collaboration with other authorities, ensure adherence to these norms by corporations, and offer recommendations to the government on the latest advancements in AI and robotics.
During the session, Alex Gakuru, the head of the Center for Law in Information Technology and the Kenyan American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) delegation, recommended that the bill be retracted for further consultation with industry representatives. He highlighted that implementing the bill in its existing state could lead to a national crisis. Mr. Gakuru contended that the bill does not do justice to AI-related issues, instead concentrating predominately on controlling the robotics sector. He further noted that its poor construction may invite legal troubles unless revised.
The 2022 Government AI Readiness Index by Oxford Insights ranked Kenya fifth in Africa for governmental readiness to use AI in public service delivery, registering an overall score of 40.36 percent. It follows Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, and Morocco. In the last decade, Kenya's total investment in AI amounted to roughly $81.5 million (KES13 billion), a small figure compared to the $1 billion (KES165.8 billion) of South Africa and Nigeria's $378 million (KES 60.3 billion), as per the "Artificial Intelligence in the Middle East and Africa Outlook Report" from Microsoft.
Mr. Kiarie assured that the opinions of the stakeholders would be contemplated during the bill's public review.
Published At
2/9/2024 2:09:38 PM
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