<aside> ℹ️ This presentation at PAIRS 2026 Online on 17th February 2026 17:45 UTC. Registered participants will receive zoom links to join the session via e-mail.
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Kenya has become a focal point for debates about predictive policing and AI-driven surveillance, with initiatives like Nairobi’s “Safe City” program illustrating both the appeal of technology-enabled crime prevention and the risks of deepening inequality and eroding trust in law enforcement. This research examines Kenya as a case study in participatory AI governance, exploring how global technology partnerships, particularly with private firms supplying surveillance infrastructure, intersect with local policing practices and histories of state power. Drawing on a review of emerging policy debates, civil society advocacy, and media coverage, the research highlights how Kenyan actors negotiate the role of predictive analytics and surveillance systems in shaping public safety. Rather than treating the Global South as a passive recipient of imported technology, this work analyzes Kenya’s community position as an active site of contestation and policy experimentation, where communities, human rights groups, and technologists are pushing for transparency and inclusion in decisions about AI. The Kenyan experience provides valuable lessons on how participatory governance frameworks can balance innovation with accountability, offering insights for international policymakers, technology developers, and scholars seeking to center context, equity, and trust in designing and deploying AI systems for policing.