The Kenyan government has unveiled plans to digitize 80% of its public services as part of its ambitious digital transformation agenda.
President William Ruto announced while launching the strategic plans for the National Police Service and the State Department of Correctional Services for the 2023–2027 period.
Central to this initiative is the modernization of police operations, with a budget of 28 billion shillings ($216.6 million) earmarked over the next two years. The investment aims to enhance national security through advanced technological systems, including the digitization of the police’s Occurrence Book (OB).
“We need a modern police service, and technology is key to that,” President Ruto stated during the event. “In today’s ever-changing digital landscape, many crimes and security threats are facilitated by digital technologies. Our ability to detect, disrupt, collect data, and investigate these threats depends on operating effectively in an advanced technological environment.”
The digitization drive aligns with Kenya’s broader agenda to accelerate its digital economy. Since taking office in September 2022, President Ruto has prioritized leveraging digital technology for socio-economic development, with a vision to achieve significant milestones by 2027.
The government’s strategy includes strengthening telecommunications infrastructure, expanding internet access, and offering public services through the E-Citizen platform, a unified digital portal.
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Currently, Kenya ranks 109th globally on the 2024 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) e-Government Development Index, with a score of 0.6314 out of 1. While above the regional averages for East Africa (0.3903) and Africa (0.4257), the nation trails the global average of 0.6382. For the online services sub-index, Kenya performs better, scoring 0.7770 out of 1.
The Kenyan digital economy is projected to contribute 662 billion shillings to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2028, according to the Global Mobile Phone Association (GSMA). This underscores the government’s commitment to integrating technology into public services and national security to drive economic growth and improve service delivery.
