Nairobi’s Robot Café Sparks Debate on Job Losses, But Expert Says it’s the Future

"Why [introduce] robots when unemployment is off the [charts]???” one user wrote on Instagram. Another added, "We shouldn't encourage robots in Africa for simple tasks like this because there is a high rate of unemployment. The Kenyan government needs to stop this ASAP."

Robot Café, the Nairobi restaurant at the center of this conversation, employs both human staff and four robots working side-by-side. These robot servers were intended to symbolize Nairobi’s status as a tech hub, reinforcing Kenya’s image as the "Silicon Savannah."

An influx of more robots is likely. Yet, their introduction has sparked a broader concern: while technology can boost economies, it can also threaten livelihoods, especially in a continent where youth unemployment and underemployment are pressing issues.

Many of Africa’s young people rely heavily on sectors like agriculture, retail and hospitality — industries vulnerable to automation — for employment. The fear is that robots will replace these essential jobs, limiting opportunities in sectors that millions depend on for survival.

Preparing Africa’s workforce for automation

For Eric Okoth Ogur, an associate professor in machines and engineering design at The Technical University of Kenya, Africa’s push toward automation presents opportunities and challenges.

“While there are concerns about job displacement, we must also consider the productivity boosts and the potential for economic growth that automation offers,” Ogur explains, saying that robotics, which excels in repetitive and routine tasks, could increase efficiency in industries like manufacturing and agriculture, freeing up workers to focus on higher-value tasks. “Automation can drive economic growth and even create new industries,” he adds.

Despite the benefits, many African economies may be unprepared to navigate this shift. Unlike wealthier nations that can invest in workforce retraining programs and robust social safety nets, most African nations will struggle to provide such support.

The road ahead

“Government has a role here,” Ogur says. “This is an opportunity to invest in education and training to prepare our workforce for an automated economy. Robots are here to stay; the world will not operate without AI.”

Ogur’s statement echoes the views of Robot Café manager John Kariuki Mwangi, who noted that other entrepreneurs are already introducing robots to Kenya, underscoring that their adoption is part of an inevitable shift.

Ogur remains optimistic about African youth and their resilience in adapting to these changes—if they have the right support. He sees this grit within his own students. “I’ve always believed that we’re training students to solve problems in the future, which we don’t know about. So what skill sets do we need to equip them with so that they solve problems?”

To move forward, Ogur says, beyond education and training, African governments need to prioritize policy development to guide the impact of automation and build partnerships that foster knowledge-sharing and technology transfer.