Kenya, EU partnership on digital transformation

EUGINE OTIENO-KNA

Kenya and the European Union have committed to work closely on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure to support the country’s ambitious digital transformation agenda.

The commitment was made during a high-level meeting between Principal Secretaries for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Stephen Isaboke and ICT and Digital Economy, John Tanui and a delegation from the EU-funded Global Gateway ICT Standards (GIST) Project.

Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary Tanui said Kenya has made significant strides in digitising government services and digital infrastructure, creating an urgent need for robust standards to underpin the country’s next phase of growth.

“We have embarked on a very ambitious plan of building a digital country and a digital government. Standards are becoming increasingly important because they provide the foundation for interoperability, security and trust across our digital ecosystem,” he said.

Tanui noted that the Government has developed key frameworks, including the Government Enterprise Architecture and the Government Interoperability Framework, to guide digital transformation in the country.

He said collaboration with European standards organisations would help Kenya strengthen these frameworks while ensuring locally developed digital products meet international requirements.

“As Kenya positions itself as a regional digital leader and begins exporting digital solutions across Africa, it is critical that our products and services comply with internationally recognised standards so they can access global markets, including the European Union,” he said.

Broadcasting and Telecommunications PS Isaboke said Kenya is entering a crucial phase of implementing flagship digital projects, making the partnership timely. 

“The ground is now ripe for many of these initiatives. We are closing one phase of our digital transformation journey, and this is the right moment to ensure standards underpin everything we are building,” he said.

He pointed to the country’s rapid digitisation of government services, noting that thousands of public services are now accessible online and require globally recognised standards to improve interoperability, efficiency and user experience.

The EU delegation said the partnership seeks to strengthen cooperation on ICT standardisation while promoting trusted, human-centred digital technologies that support innovation, trade and sustainable development.

The EU delegation Digitalisation Lead to Kenya, Milou Vanmulken, said ICT standards play a critical role in removing technical barriers to trade, enhancing interoperability and supporting stronger economic relations between Kenya and Europe.

“We see this as an opportunity to expand our strategic partnership with Kenya by identifying priority areas where closer collaboration on ICT standards can benefit both our economies and deepen our digital cooperation,” she said.

The GIST Project, funded by the European Commission and implemented by the three European Standardisation Organisations, will establish a long-term technical cooperation framework with Kenya through the deployment of resident standards experts based in Nairobi until 2028.

The experts said they will support Kenyan institutions to adopt international best practices while facilitating greater participation in global standards development processes.

The project has identified AI, digital identity, e-government interoperability and cybersecurity as initial priority areas, while remaining flexible to accommodate Kenya’s emerging priorities.