By Nuru Salim
As rapid technological changes continue to reshape industries and redefine the future of IT jobs, government and industry leaders are calling for urgent investment in workforce reskilling to protect millions of jobs at risk of disruptive innovations.
Speaking during the ISACA Kenya Chapter 2025 Annual Conference in Mombasa, Special Envoy on Technology in the Office of the President, Ambassador Philip Thigo, emphasized the urgent need for Kenya to align its workforce development strategies with the fast-paced evolution of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and data science.
“We are living in a time where technology is moving at a rapid acceleration,” said Thigo.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution has created a world where everything is digitized, virtualized, and interconnected. As a result, the volume of data being generated globally is doubling at a remarkable rate on a daily basis. This digital shift is not just changing how we live; it also reshapes the nature of work itself. “he added.
He warned that the country could lose up to 52% of its current jobs to automation by 2030 if urgent measures are not taken.
Thigo said that the most vulnerable roles are those involving routine problem-solving and data processing, which can be easily replicated by AI systems.
Kenya strengthens digital shift with focus on innovation, cybersecurity and capacity building.
“If we are not intentional in preparing our workforce, we risk becoming part of the 19 million jobs projected to be lost globally,” he stated.
“But we also have a chance to be among the 170 million jobs that will be created through AI and digital transformation. The question we must ask ourselves is, what side of history do we want to be on?” he posed.
He further pointed out that AI has become a general-purpose technology capable of simulating human intelligence, learning from data, making decisions, and generating new content. While it brings significant opportunities, it also raises serious ethical and societal concerns.
“All AI models today are trained using publicly available internet data, most of it without consent. This presents ethical challenges, particularly around misinformation, disinformation, and the erosion of human agency. These developments are contributing to societal polarization and undermining democratic institutions,” Thigo noted.
Ambassador Philip Thigo challenged ISACA to expand its membership base, urging early adoption of emerging technologies. He emphasized that those who embrace digital transformation early will gain a competitive edge in the evolving job market.
ISACA Kenya Chapter President, Mercy Omollo, reassured professionals in the information technology sector that AI should not be perceived as a threat to employment, but rather as a tool to enhance efficiency and value creation.
“It is understandable that many in the IT profession are concerned about job security in a world where automation is becoming more prevalent,” said Omollo. “However, the focus should be on how we can work alongside AI, how we can use it to simplify tasks and elevate ourselves to take on responsibilities that require human creativity, judgment, and emotional intelligence.”
She urged professionals to pursue continuous learning, embrace new technologies, and develop skills that allow them to remain relevant in an increasingly digital and data-driven world.
