Kenya has been selected to host the 4th Global Military AI Summit, officially known as the Summit on Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM), in Nairobi in April 2027.
The announcement was made during the AI, Security and Ethics Conference in Geneva by Ambassador Philip Thigo on behalf of Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya.
With the selection, Kenya becomes the first African country to host the global summit, marking a significant milestone in discussions on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in defence and security.
The announcement also adds to Kenya’s growing role in global conversations on technology policy and digital governance.
Kenya has in recent years advanced its National AI Strategy and was among the co-hosts of the previous REAIM summit in Seoul alongside South Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Hosting the 2027 summit in Nairobi is expected to strengthen Kenya’s position in global discussions on military AI while giving African countries a greater opportunity to participate in conversations on the development of international norms for the use of artificial intelligence in defence and security.
The announcement also provides continuity for the REAIM process following discussions at the third summit in Spain on the future direction and location of the initiative.
Under Kenya’s leadership, the April 2027 summit is expected to focus on turning agreed principles into practical action.
Ambassador Thigo said the Nairobi meeting will focus on translating the agreed principles into reality through local capacity building, strengthening institutional readiness within defence structures, promoting international cooperation and enhancing collaboration between governments, industry, academia and international organisations.
