Fikra × UwenzAi
Fikra is now available through the UwenzAi LLM-Gateway, giving UwenzAi users access to models from a Kenyan inference provider alongside models hosted by providers outside the region.
UwenzAi is an AI service provider with two products: an AI companion and a newly built LLM-Gateway.
Its AI companion, built in Kenya for people across East Africa, offers character-led chat, photos, search, and reminders. The LLM-Gateway gives developers access to different models through a single UwenzAi key and is currently open for users to test in an experimental phase.
Through this collaboration, selected requests from the UwenzAi LLM-Gateway can be routed to Fikra.
Fikra provides the inference API and manages its model availability and platform. UwenzAi manages the LLM-Gateway integration, its users, and billing for UwenzAi users.
For UwenzAi, adding Fikra creates a way for users to access a Kenyan inference provider without needing a separate Fikra account.
The motivation is straightforward: both companies believe the East African AI ecosystem benefits from local infrastructure and from companies working together rather than building in isolation.
“We want our users to be able to reach a Kenyan inference provider, not only models hosted somewhere else. We believe in the East African AI ecosystem, and collaboration is how that ecosystem gets built.”
— Nino, UwenzAi
For now, Fikra models are available to test through the UwenzAi LLM-Gateway. The gateway remains experimental, and this is a non-binding collaboration with no minimum spend, volume commitment, discount, or production guarantee.
Over the next 6-12 months, both sides hope to learn from one another and share insights that can contribute to the development of Kenya’s AI landscape.
This is a small integration, but it represents something important to us: Kenyan AI infrastructure connecting with Kenyan AI products.
Try the UwenzAi LLM-Gateway
https://uwenzai.com
Learn about Fikra API
https://fikraapi.co.ke/