Our Mission

Intelligence for Everyone.

Akili kwa Wote.

We are building the AI literacy infrastructure for Kenya and East Africa — because the people who train, deploy, and are governed by AI deserve to understand it.

Why we exist

The problem is real.
The gap is widening.

Kenya produces 800,000 graduates annually into a formal economy that cannot absorb them. Employers consistently report not a shortage of qualifications — but a shortage of practical digital skills, critical thinking, and adaptability.

At the same time, AI is transforming every sector — finance, agriculture, healthcare, education. The tools exist. The access does not. Most AI education products are built in English, for laptops, for learners who already have a head start.

Hekima AI was founded on a single conviction: a student in Kisumu should have the same access to AI tools and AI education as someone in a Nairobi co-working space.

800,000+
Kenyan graduates per year
competing for fewer formal jobs
~0
African AI education products in Swahili
before Hekima AI
10,000s
Kenyans employed as AI data labellers
training systems they can't access
87%
Mobile internet penetration in Kenya
the platform for AI literacy is the phone
"

We are using Claude to teach people in Kenya what Claude is, how to use it, when to trust it, and when to question it — making AI deployment safer and more equitable in East Africa.

— Hekima AI, mission statement

What we believe

The principles behind every decision.

Every course, every feature, every line of code.

🎯

Practical over theoretical

Every lesson ends with something you can do today. We measure success in job offers, yields, and decisions — not quiz scores.

🌍

African context first

AI education built for the US or UK doesn't work here. Every example, platform, and case study in our courses is Kenyan. No apologies.

🔍

Honest about AI

We teach what AI can't do as carefully as what it can. A learner who knows AI's limits is safer and more capable than one who doesn't.

📱

Accessible by design

Mobile-first. 3G-friendly. Swahili-primary. If your product requires a laptop and fast Wi-Fi, it's not designed for most Kenyans.

⚖️

Ethics from the start

AI bias, data rights, and responsible use aren't optional extras — they're core curriculum. Responsible AI & Ethics is one of our four main courses.

🤝

Community-driven

Rafiki is not a replacement for human connection. It is a bridge — to better-equipped teachers, stronger communities, and more informed citizens.

Our journey

Aug 2025
Idea born

Identified the gap: strong AI literacy demand in Kenya, zero Swahili-first products. Research began.

Early 2026
Build starts

Full-stack mobile app: courses, Rafiki AI tutor, certificate system, M-Pesa payments — built from scratch.

Mid 2026
Beta launch

First learners. Android APK + web app live at app.hekima-ai.org. Real feedback from real Kenyans.

Late 2026
Scale begins

Targeting 25,000 learners by end of Year 1 through university partnerships and WhatsApp distribution.

2027+
East Africa expansion

Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda — same product, local language adaptations, regional partners.

Infrastructure

Built on reliable technology

Enterprise-grade infrastructure. Startup agility.

Claude (Anthropic)
AI tutor — Rafiki
AWS Lambda
Cloud backend
Expo / React Native
Android + Web app
PostHog
Analytics
Africa's Talking
SMS OTP
EAS Build
App delivery

Join us in building something that matters

Whether you are a learner, a partner, an investor, or just curious — the door is open.