Kenya Is A Digital Powerhouse With More Than 95% Covered With 3G

Kenya is emerging as a digital economy leader on the African continent that is realizing the potential of the digital economy to accelerate and “future-proof” economic growth, as well as expand opportunities and access to new jobs and services for all Kenyans.

Kenya has the most advanced digital infrastructure networks (public and private) in the East Africa region and, through its direct access to international connectivity, it serves as a key transit hub for international bandwidth for its landlocked neighbors.

With more than 95 percent of its population covered with 3G or higher signal, mobile internet uptake has reached 56.5 percent, and the country has one of the highest mobile money penetration rates in the world (with transactions equivalent to 57 percent of national GDP in 2021).

According to the Kenya Economic Update Report by the World Bank, the Government of Kenya is eager to position the country as a hub for information and communication, and digital services.

The new government manifesto has identified the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy as one of its five key pillars to accelerate economic development in the country.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of digital technologies for business continuity and enabling essential services to continue operations with a minimum interruption during the lockdown.

Over the last two decades, Kenya has invested in digital infrastructure and services including six submarine fiber-optic cables offering broadband connectivity, some 9,000km of national fiber backbone connectivity reaching all counties, digitized public services, and supported its first technology/innovation hubs.

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The government has also made progress on key policies and enabling environmental reforms, including the enactment of a new Data Protection Act and the establishment of an Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (OPDC).

A new Digital Economy Strategy and a new Spectrum Policy are in the final stages of public consultations. The government manifesto promises universal broadband within 5 years through the extension of the digital superhighway to 100,000 km of fiber networks across the country.

It also promises a reduction in the costs of calls and data to allow entrepreneurs and youth to use online platforms for entertainment, information, and business; improvement of learning outcomes through connecting all schools to the internet.

The manifesto commits the government to digitize 80 percent of government services and promote Kenya as a regional hub for the promotion of software exports. It will also focus on the further development of the creative economy combined with digital initiatives to connect youths to new types of job opportunities.

This will require equipping youth with the right affordable tools and skills and enhancing their abilities to compete for job opportunities, enabling greater participation in the digital economy and creative industries.

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