Google launched its Gemini Pro Plan (Google AI Pro) in Kenya, providing eligible university and college students with 12 months of free access to its most advanced AI tools.
The initiative is part of a broader rollout across eight African countries, including Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
“This access to the Gemini Pro Plan is not just a technological handout; it is a strategic investment in the future of our youth,” said Hon. William Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy.
What Students Get with Gemini Pro
Eligible students (aged 18+) will receive:
- Gemini 2.5 Pro: A powerful AI model that functions as a personal tutor and research assistant.
- AI-Powered Learning Tools:
- Unlimited photo uploads for scanning notes and textbook exercises
- Instant explanations and custom flashcards
- Deep Research for generating cited academic reports
- Creative Suite:
- Access to Veo 3.1 Fast for video creation from text and images
- NotebookLM for summarising and organising content from documents, videos, and websites
- Cloud Storage: 2TB of Google Drive space
Registration Deadline: December 9, 2025
Sign-Up: gemini.google/students
Free AI Certification: “AI for Higher Education”
In addition to the Pro Plan, Google is offering a free 90-minute training course through the Gemini Academy. The course certifies students on the ethical and effective use of AI in learning.
Certification: Official Google Gemini Certificate
Enroll: rb.gy/cjvce7
Launch Highlights: Government and Academia Unite
The official launch event, held in Nairobi on November 12, 2025, brought together senior government officials, academic leaders, and students.
- Dr David Watene, Director of University Education and Research, emphasised:
“The provision of Gemini Pro offers an unparalleled resource to our academic institutions… This investment in specialised AI skills is vital to nurturing the agile AI workforce necessary to meet emerging industry demands.”
- Prof. Ayub Gitau, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Nairobi:
“Granting this cutting-edge tool to our students will significantly elevate the quality of their research, analysis, and problem-solving.”
- Ms Rachel Welinga, 4th-year pharmacy student:
“Gemini AI acts as a personal tutor, helping me break down complex chemical structures and generate personalized quizzes. It has made my study life significantly easier and more effective.”
Gemini Academy for Lecturers
The launch also introduced the Gemini Academy for Lecturers, a training initiative focused on:
- Ethical AI integration in teaching
- Enhancing classroom instruction and research
- Promoting academic integrity in AI-assisted learning
The event concluded with a symbolic registration moment, as UNSA Vice President Purity Mutua guided CS Kabogo through the Gemini Pro sign-up process, opening access to thousands of students nationwide.
This initiative positions Kenya, and particularly the University of Nairobi, at the forefront of AI integration in higher education, setting the stage for a transformative academic year.
