Towards Digital Partnerships: Understanding Digitalization in Kenya and Foreign Policy Implications

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.