Digitising Kenya
In 2023 a collaborative forum of CSOs and government agencies developed Kenya’s first Open Government Partnership Digital Governance Commitment as part of Kenya’s 5th OGP National Action Plan. Here, these stakeholders commit to addressing “exclusion in digital services and the digital divide” by establishing a coordination mechanism for digital transformation and enhancing “open channels for meaningful citizen engagement and feedback on digital services and policies,” among other solutions. This commitment is ultimately shaped by the shared understanding that, although the state has pursued multiple initiatives to enhance access to digital services, including digitising 12,000 public services, implementing various connectivity initiatives, including establishing free-WiFi hubs, and extending fibre optic connectivity to remote and rural communities, Kenya still “grapples with several challenges on its path toward achieving inclusive digital governance.”