New survey shows more than half of Kenyans own mobile phones
The report further shows that people living with disabilities, the elderly, and those with limited schooling face greater digital exclusion
A joint report by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that 53.7 per cent of Kenyans aged three years and above own a mobile phone.
The Analytical Report on ICT Based on the 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey highlights that fact that those within urban areas lead with 64.6 per cent ownership compared to 48.6 per cent in rural areas.
In terms of gender, it shows near-gender parity in mobile ownership with males reported at 54.5 per cent compared to 52.9 per cent females.
The report further shows that people living with disabilities, the elderly, and those with limited schooling face greater digital exclusion.
According to the report, urban areas lead at 64.6 per cent ownership compared to 48.6 per cent in rural areas. In terms of gender, the report shows minimal gender gap in mobile ownership with males reported at 54.5 per cent compared to 52.9 per cent females.
The report, which surveyed 25,000 households across the 47 counties, indicates that mobile phone usage stood at 64.9 per cent at the national level, with 65.5 males and 64.4 females using mobile phones, respectively.
While mobile ownership is associated with a range of benefits such as unrestricted use of digital services, communication, and financial inclusion, the report indicates that a portion of the population continued to use mobile services through shared arrangements, highlighting underlying inequalities in digital inclusion.
Nationally, 11.3 per cent of individuals reported using a mobile phone without owning one, with a slightly higher proportion among females at 11.5 per cent, compared to males at 11.0 per cent. Mobile phone sharing was marginally higher in urban areas at 11.8 per cent, with 12.4 per cent of females and 11.2 per cent of males using phones they did not own.
About 35.0 per cent of Kenyans now use the Internet, with youth aged 18-34 leading the digital adoption race, with over 80 per cent owning a mobile phone and 58.6 using the Internet.
The report shows that unserved and underserved counties have the least mobile phone ownership, with West Pokot County recording the lowest at 29 per cent, followed by Turkana (29.4 per cent), Marsabit (34.8 per cent), Tana River (35.5 per cent) and Samburu (36.8 per cent).
Nairobi City County leads in mobile ownership at 67.7 per cent, followed by Kirinyaga with 65.0 per cent and Nyandarua at 63.9 per cent in second and third positions, with Muranga and Kiambu sealing the top five at 62.3 and 62.1 per cent ownership, respectively.
On Internet usage, Nairobi is ranked first at 64.7 per cent, followed by Kiambu (54.0 per cent), Nyeri (50.1 per cent), Mombasa (46.9 per cent) and Uasin Gishu (42.1 per cent). West Pokot (9.1 per cent), Turkana (12.7 per cent), Tana River (15.5 per cent), Marsabit (16.3 per cent) and Garissa (16.5 per cent) counties recorded the
least Internet usage.
The report also shows low computer and smart technology uptake with only 11.6 per cent of Kenyans aged three years and above using computers, with just over 20 per cent in urban areas. Adoption of smart home technologies remains limited, particularly outside high income and urban households.
The findings underscore the need for targeted investment in digital infrastructure, affordable connectivity, and digital literacy, particularly in unserved and underserved areas of the country, and inclusive policies to empower all Kenyans in the digital era, in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Sustainable Development Goals.
“These insights provide a robust foundation for policy interventions to make Kenya a more digitally inclusive society. Bridging urban-rural and social gaps is critical for equitable national development,” CA Director General David Mugonyi said.
“We urge all stakeholders, government, private sector, and development partners, to prioritise investments and programmes that address digital access disparities and promote universal digital literacy,” KNBS Director General Dr Macdonald Obudho added.
