KARMA Warns: Poor Records Threaten Kenya AI Systems' Reliability

• KARMA warns that Kenya's AI adoption risks unreliable outcomes due to poor records management practices.
• Secretary General Collins Mutimba stated that AI reliability is directly dependent on the quality of information it processes.
• Kenya faces challenges including fragmented systems, inadequate funding, skills gaps, and reliance on paper records.
• KARMA has developed a code of ethics, competency framework, and digitization guidelines to support digital transformation.
• The association calls for increased investment, stronger policies, and greater recognition for records management professionals to ensure responsible AI adoption.

The reliability of artificial intelligence systems is directly contingent upon the quality of the information they process.

Kenya's aspirations for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across governmental and business operations are at risk of yielding unreliable outcomes, according to a recent warning from the Kenya Association of Records Managers and Archivists (KARMA). The organization emphasizes that foundational weaknesses in records management could severely compromise the integrity of AI-generated information, thereby undermining critical decision-making processes, accountability, and the effective delivery of public services, even as institutions accelerate their digital transformation initiatives.

Collins Mutimba, KARMA's Secretary General, underscored the critical need for organizations to prioritize robust data quality, comprehensive digitization efforts, and sound information governance frameworks before deploying any AI systems. He stressed that the reliability of artificial intelligence systems is directly contingent upon the quality of the information they process. Mutimba further elaborated that if records are incomplete, inaccurate, poorly organized, or inadequately secured, the AI systems built upon them are highly likely to produce unreliable results, directly impacting Kenya artificial intelligence governance.

Despite notable progress in areas such as e-government services and electronic records management, Kenya continues to grapple with significant information governance challenges. These include fragmented information systems that hinder seamless data flow, insufficient funding allocated to records management infrastructure, and persistent skills gaps among professionals. Furthermore, a widespread reliance on paper-based records across both public and private institutions remains a considerable obstacle to digital advancement.

KARMA, established in 2010 to promote professional standards and enhance information management practices, points out that Kenya still lags behind countries possessing more mature digital records infrastructure and integrated information governance systems. The association, which comprises records managers, archivists, and information professionals, has actively worked to address these issues by developing a professional code of ethics, a competency framework, and comprehensive records digitization guidelines aimed at bolstering capacity building and digital transformation efforts.

Recognizing the pivotal role of accurate and accessible information, KARMA asserts that proper records management is not merely an administrative task but a critical factor in a nation's economic performance. Government decisions, business transactions, and the provision of public services are all fundamentally dependent on the integrity of underlying data. To address the prevailing information governance Kenya challenges and ensure the responsible adoption of AI, KARMA is advocating for several key interventions.

These include increased investment in records management, the establishment of stronger policy frameworks, and a greater recognition of the vital role played by records management professionals. The association also seeks closer collaboration with the government on initiatives such as professional training, digitization projects, and the ethical deployment of AI. These discussions will be central to the upcoming KARMA records management conference, the 10th Annual Records Management Conference, scheduled from November 2-6, 2026, at the PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort and Spa in Mombasa, with its official opening on November 3. The conference, themed 'AI-Ready Records for Smart Content-Based Governance,' will gather experts from government, the private sector, academia, and international institutions to explore emerging technologies and their implications for information management, highlighting growing concerns over the quality and security of information used by automated systems.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Kenya must advise clients on the critical need for robust information governance and high-quality data management practices before implementing AI systems. Failure to address foundational records integrity could expose organizations to significant legal and compliance risks, including challenges to AI-driven decisions, accountability issues, and potential litigation stemming from unreliable outcomes.

Source: Original reporting via Capital FM