Google is making a massive AI play for Kenya’s next generation. At a launch event in Nairobi’s Sarova Stanley Hotel today, the company announced its Gemini Pro Plan (also called Google AI Pro) is now available to all eligible university and college students in the country – completely free for 12 months. This is part of the free Gemini rollout for students Google is doing across Africa.
This isn’t the free, basic version of Gemini. It’s the full-power suite, and Google is partnering directly with the Kenyan government to get it into students’ hands.
The launch wasn’t just a corporate affair; it was packed with senior government officials. ICT Cabinet Secretary Hon. William Kabogo and Dr. David Watene (representing Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, the PS for Higher Education) were both present to champion the initiative.
CS Kabogo framed the move as a core part of the Kenya AI Strategy 2025-2030, calling it a “pivotal step” to harness AI for economic growth and equip the next generation with “foundational AI skills” for the “future workforce.”
Dr. Watene hit on the same points, noting the “urgent need to address the skills gap” and integrate AI literacy into education. The government sees this as a key part of Goal 4 of the national AI strategy: building a “competent and agile AI workforce.”
So, what’s actually in the box?
Google says this plan essentially hands students its most advanced AI tools to act as a “personal AI tutor.” The centerpiece is Gemini 2.5 Pro, and the free plan unlocks a ton of features that are usually firewalled behind a subscription.
Here’s a breakdown of what students get:
- A personal scanner: Got a page of handwritten lecture notes or a complex textbook exercise? The plan gives you unlimited photo uploads to scan them and get instant explanations or summaries.
- An exam-cramming buddy: Students can feed the AI their study materials (like lecture slides or notes), and it will automatically generate custom practice questions, quizzes, and flashcards.
- A better research tool: It includes a “Deep Research” feature, which is designed to generate comprehensive reports with actual citations—a crucial detail for anyone trying to avoid academic trouble.
- A video generator: The plan also includes Veo 3.1 Fast, Google’s tool for creating “dynamic videos with sound” directly from text and image prompts.
- A writing assistant that reads: This is a big one. Students get full access to NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research and writing assistant. You can upload all your sources (docs, PDFs, videos, and websites), and NotebookLM will help you summarize, analyze, and organize the information for your papers.
- A lot more (digital) space: The plan is beefed up with 2TB of Google Drive storage, a massive jump from the standard 15GB free tier.
“We aim to equip the next generation with foundational AI skills to boost creativity, spark curiosity, and enhance problem-solving skills,” said Benson Kinoti, Google for Education Lead for sub-Saharan Africa.
How to get the free Gemini Pro plan
There are a few conditions, but they’re straightforward.
- Who is eligible? You must be 18 years or older.
- Who else? You must be currently enrolled in any university, college, or tertiary educational institution in Kenya.
- What’s the deadline? You have to act relatively fast. The redemption window for the free 12-month offer closes on December 9, 2025.
- Where to sign up: Students can register through the dedicated portal at:
https://gemini.google/students/
Free training and a certificate to match
Alongside the Pro plan, Google is also offering a free 90-minute training course called “AI for Higher Education” through its Gemini Academy.
This isn’t just for students; lecturers are also encouraged to join. The course covers the ethical and effective use of AI in learning. Everyone who completes it gets an official Google Gemini Certificate.
Applications for that free course are open at: www.rb.gy/cjvce7
