East African cities stand at a critical juncture, facing escalating climate-induced shocks such as floods and heatwaves while simultaneously presented with the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI). A proactive and strategic adoption of AI is a necessity for building urban resilience. AI offers powerful tools for predictive analytics, resource optimization, and enhanced decision-making in disaster management, infrastructure planning, and public service delivery. However, realizing this potential requires moving beyond importing foreign models and confronting foundational challenges, including fragmented data ecosystems, digital divides, and ethical governance gaps. Drawing from expert insights and regional context, during a cross-city policy dialogue titled: Catalyzing the Potential of AI in Promoting Urban Resilience in East African Cities and organized by LDE-East Africa Research Network (LEARN), this brief recommends a pathway centered on localized AI innovation, robust data infrastructure, inclusive policy frameworks, and targeted capacity building. The goal is to ensure AI acts as an quitable enabler of resilience, empowering East African cities to not just withstand shocks but to thrive in an uncertain climate future.