It Is Time For Kenya To Treat Technology As Infrastructure

Twenty years ago, success in Kenya followed a familiar formula. You went to school, worked hard, got a job, and hoped for stability. Today, more people are building their paths, often using nothing more than a smartphone and an internet connection. A student in Eldoret runs a thrift page from her dorm room. A boda rider in Nairobi is now a digital delivery partner. Technology has changed how we work and plan for the future.

Mobile access has become a baseline for productivity. According to GSMA, the mobile ecosystem contributed over $170 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy in 2023, representing 8.1% of GDP. Kenya, with its history of innovation in mobile money, continues to lead. But digital access is no longer the end goal. It is the starting point. More people are redefining success on their terms, building careers and communities using mobile-first tools.

The internet has changed how information flows and who influences it. Creators in Kenya no longer wait for permission from traditional media houses. A video recorded in Kisumu City can go viral across the country within hours of going online. A coding lesson shared from Nairobi can reach learners in Mombasa in seconds. This decentralization of reach has shifted how influence and opportunity are distributed. Visibility is no longer confined to urban centers or elite networks.

A 2024 Dalberg report found that digital creators in Sub-Saharan Africa generated $2 billion in revenue and supported over 20 million jobs in 2023. While modest globally, this is a critical signal for Kenya. Most of these creators are under 35 and operating outside the formal employment system. They are creating value in real time and not waiting for employment. Their needs go beyond data bundles or ring lights. They need a policy that protects their work, systems that support their scale, and capital that understands digital economics.

To compete at a global level, Kenya must do more than adopt digital tools. We must shape how technology is applied in our context. In music, small-town producers are uploading tracks that reach international audiences overnight. In commerce, entrepreneurs are running businesses from their phones, using cloud accounting and mobile payments. In education, students are enrolling in coding bootcamps and virtual mentorships hosted from outside Africa. These are local innovations with global relevance.

As more Kenyans move online, access to mobile technology remains key. But it is also about affordability. Mobile financing companies have made it possible for millions to acquire smartphones through asset financing. This has not only improved communication; it has opened the door to income-generating opportunities. Whether it’s selling products on social media or offering services on gig platforms, more Kenyans now have a direct line to the digital economy. When tools are within reach, ambition follows quickly.

Even device manufacturers have a role to play in preparing for a digital-first future. It’s no longer just about affordability but about building smartphones that are ready for how people learn, work, and express themselves. Samsung’s latest Galaxy A Series now brings AI-powered features to a wider audience. That’s a shift from smartphones as tools of consumption to tools of growth. Devices that teach, guide, and adapt will define the next wave of digital inclusion.

There is a school of thought that innovation should be left to governments or large corporations. Kenya’s story disproves that. Much of the country’s digital growth has come from ordinary people solving local problems in creative ways. Right now, the challenge is structure, not motivation. We need support systems that enable experimentation and scale. That means accessible finance for creators and small businesses, national data protection frameworks, and training programs that prepare youth for a digital-first future.

Kenya’s advantage lies in its adaptability. But that must be matched with investment in real digital infrastructure, not just roads and railways, but the invisible scaffolding that powers a modern economy. We need data centers that store and protect our content locally. We need e-learning platforms that reach every constituency. We need digital ID systems that unlock public services and fair digital marketplaces that support small businesses. A functioning digital economy depends on infrastructure that is intelligent, inclusive, and resilient. These are today’s essentials.

This is a moment to treat technology not as an industry but as a framework for every industry. From farming to logistics, from law to design, we are witnessing a transformation in how value is created and delivered. What used to be considered tech jobs are now just jobs. What used to be digital businesses are now just businesses.

The next generation will not remember a line between online and offline. They will only remember what worked. And Kenya must be where it works first.

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The writer is the Digital Marketing Manager, Samsung Electronics East Africa:  Levis Ryan Macharia