Mitsumi Distribution has announced a KES 258 million (US$2 million) investment to build an artificial intelligence (AI) cloud platform intended to give Kenyan university graduates, software developers and early-stage tech entrepreneurs access to affordable computing infrastructure.
The company said the initiative was announced last week in Nairobi during the AI Everything Kenya X GITEX Kenya Summit. According to Mitsumi, the platform is designed to reduce the cost barriers that can limit local developers’ ability to build, test and scale AI-enabled products on cloud infrastructure.
Mitesh Shah, Co-founder and Managing Director at Mitsumi Distribution, said the company is funding the project largely as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. “The AI cloud we are putting up is around $2 million. This is mostly CSR from Mitsumi’s side so that most of our educated youths can utilize it for different things,” Shah said.
Mitsumi said the platform will enable local developers to build and test software, experiment with AI solutions and connect to international technology markets without incurring the costs typically associated with global cloud services. The company added that access to advanced tools and computing power remains a key constraint for many young innovators.
Jagat Shah, Chairman and CEO of Mitsumi Distribution, linked the investment to affordability challenges faced by young professionals. “So many youths are well educated to do something good, but because of cost and affordability, they are not getting good exposure,” he said.
The announcement comes amid increased public and private sector focus on digital infrastructure and AI skills as Kenya positions its digital economy for growth. For the local market, access to compute is a practical constraint for AI development, given that training and running modern AI models can be expensive and often requires specialised hardware capacity.
Mitsumi also disclosed that it has hired more than 50 young people within its AI division, where it said they are working on research, product development and digital solutions. The company argued that Kenya’s talent base could support a stronger role in regional AI and software development if infrastructure constraints are addressed. “Kenyan youth possess exceptional technical talent and a strong understanding of software development. What has been missing is greater access to platforms and infrastructure that can help them innovate, scale and compete globally,” Jagat Shah said.
The firm welcomed the government’s ongoing efforts to develop an AI policy framework, stating that clear regulation and ethical standards could support responsible innovation. While the company did not provide timelines for the cloud platform’s rollout or details on how developers will access the infrastructure, it indicated the initiative is intended to broaden participation in AI development.
Looking ahead, Mitsumi said locally developed AI solutions could be applied to improve healthcare, education and access to essential services, particularly in underserved and remote communities. The next milestones likely to be watched by the sector include the platform’s launch date, eligibility and pricing structure for users, and how the initiative aligns with Kenya’s emerging AI policy direction.