Kenya’s digital transformation has taken a fresh leap, with the launch of Google’s Gemini Pro Plan, a powerful artificial intelligence platform now accessible to university and college students across the country and several African countries.
The initiative, unveiled at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, is being hailed as a game-changer for the nation’s education and innovation ecosystem.
For the first time, thousands of learners will have free access for 12 months to one of the world’s most advanced AI learning systems, a tool designed to function as a personal tutor, research partner, and creative collaborator all in one.
Speaking at the launch, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, described the move as a defining moment in Kenya’s journey toward an AI-driven economy.
“This initiative perfectly aligns with our Kenya AI Strategy 2025–2030, which positions artificial intelligence at the heart of sustainable growth,” Kabogo said. “By democratizing access to advanced AI, we are empowering a generation that will shape the future of our industries and our society.”
The Gemini Pro Plan offers students access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, a cutting-edge AI model that allows users to scan notes for instant explanations, convert lessons into interactive quizzes, and generate research papers complete with citations. Students can also use Veo 3.1 Fast to turn text and images into dynamic videos, and NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered writing assistant, to summarize and organize research materials.
Each participant also receives 2TB of Google Drive storage to support collaborative study and innovation projects.
According to Benson Kinoti, Google for Education Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa, the goal is to transform how students learn, think, and create.
“AI is not just a technology; it’s an enabler of opportunity,” Kinoti said. “Gemini Pro helps students move beyond rote learning. It inspires them to explore, to question, and to apply knowledge creatively. That’s the future we want to nurture in Kenya.”
The program targets students aged 18 and above who are enrolled in any accredited university, college, or tertiary institution. Registration for the free plan is open until December 9, 2025.
At the event, Dr. David Watene, Director of University Education and Research at the Ministry of Education, emphasized that integrating AI literacy into classrooms is vital for closing the digital skills gap.
“Gemini Pro brings a hands-on approach to AI learning. Students can now experiment with real-world tools that mirror the technologies driving the global economy. This is how we build an adaptable, future-ready workforce.”he said
Beyond the software itself, Google is also rolling out a 90-minute certification course, “AI for Higher Education,” through the Gemini Academy. The course, open to both students and lecturers, focuses on the responsible and ethical use of AI, with graduates receiving an official Google Gemini Certificate.
By embedding these tools into Kenya’s academic landscape, Google aims to nurture a generation of creators, problem-solvers, and innovators who can harness AI to drive local and regional transformation.
The Gemini Pro launch signals more than a technological upgrade. It represents a national leap toward AI-powered learning, where the boundaries of curiosity and innovation are no longer set by limited resources but by imagination itself.
Africa- regional empowerment
Beyond Kenya, Google’s new initiative offers free one-year access to its advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for university students across six African countries.
Google said the offer is available to students aged 18 and above in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
According to Google, the initiative builds on its ongoing investment in Africa’s digital ecosystem through flagship programs such as the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa and the Digital Skills for Africa initiative, both of which have supported millions of individuals and small businesses in developing digital capabilities.
Students interested in the offer are required to verify their university status and activate their 12-month subscription by visiting gemini.google/students before December 9, 2025.
The offer lands amid a broader regional shift where consumer AI services are slowly becoming available across Africa. In September, Google AI Plus expanded to 20 African countries, with Kenya getting a promotional KES 500 per month price for six months, a signal that Google is actively testing pricing and access models for local markets. This free student tier goes a step further by removing cost entirely for a full academic year.
What students get
The plan centers on Gemini 2.5 Pro and bundles tools that map neatly to academic workflows:
Guided Learning for step-by-step help with complex problems, research, and debugging.
Deep Research to generate comprehensive, cited reports from large sets of sources, useful for literature reviews and dissertations.
NotebookLM to organize notes and connect ideas across readings and classes.
Veo 3 to turn text prompts or images into short videos for presentations and projects.
2 TB cloud storage across Drive, Gmail, and Photos for datasets, drafts, and media.
Eligibility and how to redeem
Who: University students aged 18+ at eligible institutions in the six listed countries.
Where: gemini.google/students.
When: Redeem between Oct 7 and Dec 9, 2025.
How: Verify student status through approved methods, then add or confirm a payment method, with no charges during the free year.
For campuses and students, the immediate benefit is cost relief and hands-on AI literacy. For Google, it is a bet on early adoption among the continent’s most active knowledge workers. Given the recent availability of consumer plans like AI Plus in 20 African markets, a free student plan could seed long-term usage.
