About the digital market in Kenya

Kenya has been at the forefront of the African digital revolution over the past decade, and the country currently has over 80 percent internet penetration. This makes Kenya one of the world-leaders in the use of smartphones. As a consequence, mobile technologies are rapidly disseminating in Kenya and being embraced by the banking, transportation, education and healthcare industries. Today, Kenya is among six African countries identified as leaders in the expansion of the continent’s share of the global digital economy. 

Edtech

Kenya has some of the world’s highest educational exclusion, with up to 5-7 million children out of school. The education system must prepare the youth for jobs in a tech economy, or Kenya risks falling further behind. The Kenyan population is mainly made up of young people. In 2019, youth unemployment (15-24) in Kenya reached close to 30%. The market often doesn’t hold secure employments for youth, limiting their income-earning opportunities. Kenya is projected to have the highest mobile learning growth rate in near future. (Source: World Bank, How technology is changing education in Africa, 2019).

Medtech

Medical technologies are products, services or solutions used to save and improve people’s lives. The Kenyan medical device market will record double-digit growth in local currency terms over the 2017-2022 period. Kenya will increase budgetary allocation towards training of healthcare workers and acquisition of technologies in order to boost response to a rising disease burden. The demand for medical devices remains high as many healthcare facilities require modernization in both the public and private sector, which fosters a demand for high quality, affordable and efficient medical devices and digital transformation. (Source: Medic East Africa, Healthcare Insights, 2019).