Simba AI: Revolutionizing Communication by Translating English into Kenya's Local Languages

Kenya has entered the worldwide competition in artificial intelligence with the introduction of Simba AI. This marks the nation's debut as home to the first AI chatbot capable of comprehending and translating English into various indigenous languages.

Simba AI is dedicated to overcoming linguistic obstacles and promoting digital accessibility. The chatbot made its debut in Nakuru County on Friday, May 2, 2025. This initiative emerged from a partnership between Simba AI and Lish AI Labs.

The project will see the creation of Africa’s inaugural AI plant in Nakuru. This setup aims to educate upcoming specialists in artificial intelligence and offer AI services to learners, enterprises, and scientists, taking advantage of rapid fiber-optic connections and data centers.

One distinguishing feature of Simba AI is its capability to engage with speakers in under-resourced African languages. This makes it particularly well-suited to support communities frequently marginalized in the digital world, thereby ensuring inclusion across various age ranges.

Simba AI is strategically placing Kenya at the forefront of AI innovation as both a producer and a key player on the international stage, transforming the nation’s role from an AI user to an AI developer. This initiative positions Kenya to potentially rival industry giants such as OpenAI based in the USA and DeepSeek from China.

Key Features & Advantages of Simba AI

1. Local Language Integration

Unlike traditional AI systems, Simba AI is built to understand and translate English into local dialects, serving communities often left out of the digital transformation.

2. Advanced AI Capabilities

Simba AI offers faster and more accurate responses than predecessors by leveraging improved large language models (LLMs).

3. AI Factory for Young Talent Development & Creation

The AI laboratory in Nakuru, established via a collaboration with Lish AI Labs, functions as an educational hub for young people, providing them with practical abilities in areas such as:

AI model development
Data annotation and validation
Machine learning and automation

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4. Employment Generation & Skill Enhancement

With the rise of AI, Simba AI is seen as a pathway to new employment opportunities, particularly for young people in roles like:

Machine learning engineers
AI specialists
Data analysts

5. Support for Startups and Enterprises

The AI factory offers AI as a Service (AIaaS) — allowing startups and businesses to access computing power and AI capabilities without needing their own infrastructure.

6. Impact on Kenya’s Objectives for Its Digital Economy

Aligns with the Kenya National Digital Master Plan (2022–2032) and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2025–2030), which aim to promote innovation, job creation, and digital inclusivity.

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Founders of Simba AI Chatbot

The founders of the Chatbot include Mark Matunga, the Chairman of Simba AI, who advocates for AI as a transformative force that can unlock youth potential, promote entrepreneurship, and drive economic growth.

Moreover, Randy Faulkner, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said that the responsible deployment of AI’s ethical practices, has the potential for Kenya to become a technological beacon in Africa.

Additionally, Lish AI Labs, Simba AI’s technical partner, provided infrastructure, training, and employment opportunities in the machine learning and AI development.

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