Kenya Should Learn from the World, but Shape Policy to Its Own Realities

Kenya's digital economy is no longer a mere aspiration, but a concrete force with mobile money penetration exceeding 100% of registered accounts and an active agent network that has expanded by over 100,000 outlets in a single quarter. This digital economy is projected to contribute KES 662 billion to Kenya's GDP by 2028, create 300,000 new jobs, and generate KES 150 billion in additional tax revenue.

The policy environment that allowed Kenyan digital services to develop on Kenyan terms before regulation was the key to these achievements, and this lesson should guide Kenya's future policy making. As Kenya looks to the future, it is wise to learn from global regulatory frameworks such as the EU's AI Act and the Digital Markets Act, but these frameworks should not be adopted wholesale.

Instead, Kenya should draw on global experience where it is useful, and design rules that protect local interests while allowing local solutions to scale regionally under the East African Community and African Continental Free Trade Area digital trade agendas.