Meta has officially partnered with leading African Al accelerator This is Digital to launch the Al Academy Kenya, a flagship capacity-building program designed to equip Kenyan students, developers, startups, small business owners, and career professionals with practical, future-ready artificial intelligence skills.
The program will be officially launched on September 11th, 2026, providing a high-profile platform to showcase Meta’s commitment to advancing Africa’s digital economy. The initiative combines hands-on developer training, startup acceleration, and immersive Al Masterclasses to nurture the next generation of local Al talent. The program will be divided into two sections:
1. Al Pitchathon where we are calling Kenyan startups or developers who are building innovative solutions with Meta’s Al technologies to pitch their solutions live in Nairobi, Kenya and compete for equity-free funding and an invitation to pitch at Meta’s Al Summit in Istanbul, Turkiyë in November 2026.
2. Al Masterclass then kicks off for 8 weeks where the curriculum will cover Al fundamentals, prompt engineering, Al for research and knowledge work, Ai for documents, reporting and communication, Al for productivity and much more.
The landmark partnership pairs Meta’s Al tools with This Is Digital’s deep expertise in workforce enablement and Al transformation. Founded on International Al Appreciation Day 2025, This Is Digital has already trained over 800 Al Champions. across 10+ countries, demystifying Al and delivering tailored consultancy and masterclasses for individuals and enterprises.
“The next wave of Al 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.”
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“Our mission has always been to ensure everyone across Africa gets a seat at the Al 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 Al & Digital Strategist at This Is Digital, added, “By translating complex Al 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 Al Pitchathon are open. The deadline for the Al Pitchathon is. 30th September 2026 and it will take place on October 15, 2026. The Al Masterclass applications are open. The deadline for the Al Masterclass is 31st October 2026 and it kicks off on November 3rd 2026. Interested applicants for both the Al Pitchathon and Masterclass can learn more and register at https://aiacademykenyalaunch.splashthat.com/the Al
About This Is Digital This Is Digital is an Al & Digital Accelerator empowering businesses and individuals across Africa with practical Al skills, bespoke strategies, and ROI-driven workflows. Through expert-led consultancy and its signature Al Academy, This is Digital bridges the digital knowledge divide to foster an inclusive, Al-powered future. For more information, visit www.thisisdigital.ai.
