Kenya Digital Transformation Progress: Ruto’s 1,000 Days of Growth and Control

Situated in East Africa and at the very heart of digital transformation, Kenya is now enjoying its momentum. Under the helm of President William Ruto, the country aggressively pursued the digitization of government services while establishing critical ICT infrastructure and equipping the youth with digital opportunities. These trends paved the way for both increased revenue growth and internet expansion, with Kenya thus becoming a leading digital hub on the continent.

However, beneath the glorious narrative lies a darker reality. There is a growing trend of shutdowns of the internet, throttling of social media, mass surveillance, and mute suppression of online dissent that will surely destroy the spirit of the freedoms which digital technologies have been built to enhance. So, does the sudden surge in Kenya’s digital transformation mark a crossroads for cementing an open and inclusive digital future, or will it morph into digital authoritarianism?

Digital Services Explosion: eCitizen’s Rise

At the center of Kenya’s digital transformation sits eCitizen, the government platform through which citizens can access services-from business registration to license renewals.

Amazingly, eCitizen offered below 400 services in 2022. By mid-2025, however, this figure has risen to over 22,500 services.

In an increase of approximately 18 months, registered users have more than doubled from 13 million to 30 million.

We see a sudden surge in the collection of revenue through eCitizen from Sh 60 million up to more than Sh 1 billion daily, with a monthly tally exceeding Sh 10.9 billion, a tenfold increase.

These statistics represent a real and tangible shift: The domestic digital transformation is no longer an abstract goal but a critical driver of government efficiency and revenue.

Infrastructure Build-Out: Hubs, Fiber, and Connectivity

The development of physical and social infrastructure has grown within Kenya’s ICT ecosystem.

Digital innovation hubs nationwide have grown to a total of 274, with more than 16,800 devices deployed.

Programs, namely, Ajira and Jitume, have created synergy with these hubs to train approximately 516,000 young people and spurred the growth of digital gig opportunities by 409%.

The National Fibre Optic Network covers 13,590 km with 1,563 public Wi-Fi hotspots serving about 400,000 active users per day and an estimated 2 million users in total.

Through World Bank funding, several more fiber networks are planned for extension, including 940 km more in northeastern Kenya, which is part of the grand objective to hit 100,000 km of fiber by 2032.

However, fiber deployment by the Government remains way below expectations, notwithstanding this progress. Going by the 30 km of government-laid fiber in operation, there seems to be a huge disparity between what was planned and what is really going on in implementation.

The current infrastructure developments are core to sustaining Kenya’s digital transformation progress by broadening broadband access and improving connectivity.

Digital Disruptions: Internet Shutdowns and Social Media Throttling

In reality, Kenyan hopes for digital transformation have been constrained by undue restrictions on internet freedom.

In Kenya, internet shutdowns and throttling have been witnessed multiple times, often linked with political events and exams:

• June 25–26, 2024: Kenya witnessed almost a total internet blackout during #RejectFinanceBill protests. Connectivity went down in the whole country, including bandwidth in the neighboring Uganda and Burundi. Once the shutdown went into effect, it drew an outcry from civil society organizations — among them ICJ Kenya, BAKE, KUJ, and CIPESA — that shared concerns of legality regarding the shutdown and challenged it in court.
• December 2023 and June 2024: Telegram, X (formerly called Twitter), and TikTok were throttled on occasions when national examinations were being conducted and at times of civil unrest.
• In May 2025, however, Kenya’s High Court found prior internet shutdowns “unlawful” and issued orders to prohibit any arbitrary shutdowns and throttling in the future on account of their grave impact on the democratic processes.

These interruptions reveal the existence of a troubling dilemma in Kenya’s digital transformation progress: the contention between increasing digital access and controlling the digital communication flow in politically sensitive moments.

Surveillance, Digital IDs, and Silencing Dissent

These are the ways Kenya has co-opted the justification of security and efficiency in expanding digital surveillance:

• The Maisha Namba national digital ID program collects biometric data and integrates it into multiple government systems, posing serious privacy and data-protection issues due to weak legal safeguards.
• In May 2025, developer Rose Njeri was arrested for creating a protest organization app under Kenya’s Cybercrime Act, stiffening the criminalization of online dissent.
• Youth activists and content creators from the vocally political Gen Z reported that, with the Finance Bill protests, they had been subject to harassment, kidnappings, and torture, casting a dark shadow over any hope for digital suppression transitioning into real-world violence.

This clash of technology and control disturbs the fragile balance between innovation and human rights, posing critical questions about the future of Kenya’s digital transformation initiative.

The Road Ahead: Balancing Progress with Rights

Kenya’s digital transformation has many aspects upon which it can be considered remarkable; however, it has to be seen as incomplete and an issue of contestation. The challenge is to integrate digital rights as a fundamental component of the ICT strategy of the country.

Some of the key priorities are:

• Universal and affordable digital access: scaling infrastructure with investments in power, broadband, and devices to close access gaps.
• Robust digital rights legislation: enshrining legislation protecting privacy, data security, and freedom of expression online.
• Independent oversight and accountability: institutions to monitor government surveillance, internet restrictions, and adjudicate on the legality thereof.
• Protection of digital dissent and youth voices: protecting digital dissent by activists, journalists, and content creators from intimidation and harassment.

Kenya is on the verge of becoming one of Africa’s most digitally connected nations — a beacon for innovation and growth. But this promise carries risks: without safeguarding digital freedoms, the country risks trading a digital revolution for digital repression.

The government’s ICT gains must not come at the expense of human rights. How Kenya navigates this digital crossroads will define its democratic future and the true success of its digital transformation progress.

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