Raila Odinga Academy to Train Public Servants in AI and Crisis Management

The Kenya School of Government is setting out plans for a leadership academy named after the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, with proposed training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and crisis management aimed at preparing public officers for a changing world.

The Raila Amolo Odinga Regional Leadership and Governance Academy is expected to combine executive training with research, policy development and practical exercises designed to test how leaders respond to difficult situations.

The plans were outlined in a notice published on Tuesday, October 13, which said Canon (Dr) Ida Odinga would be the chief guest at a ceremony linked to the academy.

However, the institution is not entirely new. KSG officially unveiled the academy and the Chandaria Innovation Centre during its centenary celebrations in June 2026. The school’s account of the event was published on July 6, with Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku presiding over the unveiling. The October announcement therefore comes after that earlier milestone. <Cite refs={["turn860685view0","turn860685view1"]}/>

The academy honours Raila’s decades in public service and is intended to develop leadership skills among public officers in Kenya and across Africa.

AI training and simulated emergencies

One of the proposed features is a governance laboratory where public officers would practise responding to complex emergencies before facing them in real life.

According to the notice, exercises could cover economic shocks, cyberattacks, climate-related emergencies and public unrest. The planned lab would use artificial intelligence tools and simulations to place participants in scenarios that test their judgement and decision-making under pressure.

The academy also plans to offer digital skills programmes covering AI, cybersecurity and data management. These are intended to help government officials understand new technologies and their implications for public administration.

The plans come as governments face growing demands to protect public information, respond to digital threats and make decisions in rapidly changing circumstances. The academy’s proposed approach would allow public servants to practise handling such challenges in a controlled training environment.

KSG has not, however, published details in the supplied notice on when the individual courses will begin, how much they will cost or how many officers will be trained in the first year.

Preserving Raila’s public service legacy

Beyond training, the academy is expected to preserve material documenting Raila Odinga’s political and public service career.

The plans include a Raila Odinga Knowledge Management Hub and e-Museum, a library and the Public Service Museum of Kenya. These facilities are intended to provide records and historical material for researchers, students and public officials studying leadership and governance.

The academy is also linked to support from industrialist Manu Chandaria and the Chandaria Foundation, which partnered with KSG in establishing the institution. The June unveiling included the Chandaria Innovation Centre. <Cite refs={["turn860685view0","turn179224search5"]}/>

The project forms part of a wider effort to turn Raila’s legacy into an institutional resource rather than limiting the commemoration to speeches and anniversary events.

In September, Ida Odinga announced that KSG had established the academy as a centre for public-sector leadership and governance studies. The University of Nairobi has also been preparing a Raila Odinga Centre for Democracy, creating a separate academic initiative focused on democracy and governance. <Cite refs={["turn860685view2","turn179224search10"]}/>

What the academy is expected to deliver

The academy’s proposed work extends beyond classroom teaching. KSG plans to develop leadership assessments, research units and policy advice for public institutions. It also intends to explore programmes addressing public service mental health and training opportunities for communities outside formal learning settings.

The institution is expected to work with government bodies and regional and international partners on training, research and the exchange of knowledge.

The key test will be how these plans translate into accessible courses, practical skills and measurable improvements in public service. The notice does not yet specify the academy’s total cost, its first-year enrolment target or a detailed timetable for the planned programmes.

For now, the academy represents both a tribute to Raila Odinga and an attempt to build a lasting training institution around leadership, governance and emerging technology.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.