Towards Digital Partnerships: Understanding Digitalization in Kenya and Foreign Policy Implications
Anette Ruml
Towards Digital Partnerships: Understanding Digitalization in Kenya and Foreign Policy Implications
Digital Cooperation with Global Partners - Policy Study | 2025
Abstract
Kenya's rise as a digital leader in Africa exemplifies the transformative power of digital leapfrogging in driving economic growth and innovation. This study investigates the evolution and impact of Kenya's dynamic digital ecosystem, highlighting its role in advancing various sectors. It delves into sectoral impacts, policy frameworks, and existing digital partnerships, emphasising the critical importance of regulatory alignment and robust data governance for sustainable collaboration. It highlights Kenya's strategic role as a global digital partner and outlines recommendations for enhancing data exchange, expanding digital trade, and fostering information and communications technology-related human-resource exchange. While focused on the European Union–Kenya partnership, Germany's leadership in digital cooperation with Kenya provides a platform for addressing these key issues as well.
AI governance is shifting, with national priorities outweighing global coordination. To uphold its leadership in rights-respecting and innovation-friendly AI, the European Union must strengthen its domestic capabilities, expand international partnerships, and assert its regulatory influence.
Rethinking development policy: dismantling it would be fatal - it serves German interests and secures global goods. But “business as usual” is not enough: coordination and genuine partnerships with the Global South are necessary. Europe must create a more effective, multilateral offer.
