84 percent of Kenyans say digital devices and services have improved their daily life, while roughly a third say it has increased their income.
These are some of the important findings of a cross-country survey that offers a comprehensive and timely assessment of how Kenya’s significant investments in core digital infrastructure are affecting individuals.
The poll reveals widespread adoption in areas other than mobile money, such as the use of digital services to support livelihoods, e-commerce, and e-governance.
According to the study, 94 percent of Kenyans utilize mobile money and 27% use e-government services. The Huduma Namba is expected to boost access by 45 percent.
The report is based on responses from over 2400 Kenyans who took part in a nationally representative poll between November and December 2020.
This poll provides a “people-centered” perspective that stakeholders can use to determine where additional investments should be made as well as design policies that will help Kenya move to the next stage of digital development—-one that will benefit Kenyans of all economic levels.
The survey also found that Kenyans who are geographically, financially, or socially vulnerable are more likely to use only basic digital services, such as sending and receiving payments on their phones or topping up their airtime.
Eighty-five percent of rural residents with lower than primary education, 45% people with disabilities, 44% of older people, and 37% of adult farmers / homemakers use only basic digital services or no digital services at all.
With regards to the gender divide, our study also corroborates the commonly understood gender divide in Kenya – 35% of women are advanced digital services users, compared to 54% of men.
The study sheds light on how through concerted effort and intervention, some advanced digital services are reaching some portions of “typically left-behind” segments and helping to improve lives.
“The next few years offer an opportunity to build on Kenya’s exceptional digital progress–and to embrace lessons from surveys like this to advance the nation’s commitment to ensuring every citizen, enterprise and organization is participating in the digital economy,” said Robert Karanja, Director of Responsible Technology at Omidyar Network.
*This article was written by Ivyonne Kwamboka for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews@gmail.com to submit your story.
