Google Launches Gemini Pro Plan in Kenya, Empowering University Students with Free Access to Advanced AI Tools

Google has announced the official launch of its Gemini Pro Plan (Google AI Pro) in Kenya at a high-profile event held at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi.

Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy in Kenya, Hon. William Kabogo, and the Principal Secretary for Higher Education & Research, Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, alongside other senior government officials, academic leaders, and students welcomed and lauded the initiative.

Speaking the event, Hon. William Kabogo, the CS, Ministry of ICT & the Digital Economy, said: “This initiative by Google is a pivotal step that aligns perfectly with Kenya’s strategic vision, as outlined in the Kenya AI Strategy 2025-2030, to harness the transformative power of AI for sustainable development, economic growth, and the well-being of our citizens. By providing our university and college students with premium access to Google’s most advanced AI model, we are actively investing in equipping the next generation with foundational AI skills needed to thrive in the classroom and prepare for the future workforce. This collaboration underscores our commitment to positioning Kenya as a leader in AI innovation and ensuring that the benefits of this technology are equitably shared across all segments of society.”

Dr David Watene, Director, University Education and Research, Ministry of Education (who represented the PS for Higher Education & Research, Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala), said: “Our education sector recognises the urgent need to address the skills gap and integrate AI literacy across all learning demographics. The provision of Gemini Pro, a leading AI model for learning, offers an unparalleled resource to our academic institutions. Tools like Guided Learning, study guides, and quizzes ensure that students can deepen their understanding and build critical thinking skills along the way. This investment in specialised AI skills is vital to nurturing the agile AI workforce necessary to meet emerging industry demands.”

The program provides eligible university and college students (aged 18 yrs and above and currently enrolled in any university, college or tertiary educational institution in Kenya) with 12 months of complimentary access to the Google Gemini Pro Plan (Google AI Pro), Google’s most advanced artificial intelligence tools, reinforcing the government’s commitment to digital transformation and the pivotal role of academia in fostering AI literacy. Registrations for the free offer close on December 9, 2025.

Mr. Benson Kinoti, Google for Education Lead, sub-Saharan Africa, commented: “Learning has always been core to Google’s mission. We are immensely proud to roll out our most advanced AI tools for learning to eligible university students in Kenya, free of charge for twelve months. With access to the Google Gemini Pro Plan, we aim to equip the next generation with foundational AI skills to boost creativity, spark curiosity, and enhance problem-solving skills. We believe that providing this powerful suite – which acts as a personal AI tutor for every student, helping them understand and learn at their own pace – is essential for preparing them for the future workforce.”

Through the Gemini Pro Plan, students will gain access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, a powerful AI model designed to act as a personal tutor and academic companion. Key features include unlimited photo uploads to scan lecture notes or textbook exercises for instant explanations, exam preparation tools that convert study materials into custom practice questions and flashcards, Deep Research for generating comprehensive reports with citations, and Veo 3.1 Fast for creating dynamic videos with sound from text and images.

Students will also benefit from NotebookLM – Google’s AI-powered research and writing assistant that helps users summarize, analyze, and organize information from uploaded sources like documents, videos, and websites –  and 2TB of Google Drive storage, enabling guided learning, study guides, and interactive quizzes. The initiative equips the next generation with foundational AI skills, preparing them to thrive both in the classroom and in the future workforce.

The launch event highlighted the strategic collaboration between Google, the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy, the Ministry of Education, and leading universities in Kenya. It also underscored the alignment of this initiative with the Kenya National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030, particularly Goal 4: building a robust pipeline of competent and agile AI workforce for Kenya. By bridging the AI skills gap and embedding AI literacy into higher education, the Gemini Pro Plan demonstrates the power of Public-Private Partnerships in advancing talent development and innovation.

In addition to the Gemini Pro Plan, Google is offering a free training course, “AI for Higher Education,” through the Gemini Academy. Open to both students and lecturers, the 90-minute course certifies participants on the ethical and effective use of AI in learning, with graduates receiving an official Google Gemini Certificate. Applications can be made via this link: www.rb.gy/cjvce7. The redemption window for the free student offer runs from October 7 to December 9, 2025, and students can sign up through dedicated channels at https://gemini.google/students/

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