Kenya Leads Africa In ICT Regulation

A United Nations agency has ranked Kenya’s ICT regulatory ecosystem as the most progressive in Africa.

According to the latest edition of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ICT Regulatory Tracker, Kenya scored 93 points up from the 2023 rating of 92, taking the lead in Africa in best practice ICT regulation.

Nigeria and South Africa came second and third with 92 and 88 points, respectively while Malawi, Egypt, Rwanda, Morocco, Uganda, Burkina Faso and Senegal made it to the top 10 list.

Globally, Kenya was ranked 20th out of 194 countries covered, with Italy topping the list at 100 points, followed by Lithuania at 99.5. Finland and Ireland tied in third position with 99 points.

In the assessment, the ITU, which is a specialized agency UN for ICTs, considered the design of the national regulatory authority, breadth of the regulatory mandate, the obtaining regulatory regime and the robustness of the competition framework in ITU member countries.

The ICT Regulatory Tracker is an evidence-based tool for decision-makers and regulators and highlights the strength of regulatory frameworks in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The ITU further rated Kenya’s ICT regulatory framework at the apex level of advanced fourth generation (G4), acknowledging the country’s competitive and inclusive ICT regulatory framework.

This achievement underscores Kenya’s position as a leader in ICT regulation and innovation in Africa, a testament to the Government’s commitment to creating a robust, technology-neutral regulatory environment that supports innovation, affordability, and access.

“This ranking is a clear testament of the excellent work that CA has done in spearheading Kenya’s digital transformation and driving digital access for all. At 25, CA’s regulatory regime has attained maturity and gained global recognition,” said the Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Mr. Steve Isaboke.

“This ranking shows that CA staff and leadership are executing their work diligently,” added Mr. Isaboke.

Upon receiving the news, Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Director General Mr. David Mugonyi said the recognition comes at a time CA is preparing to commemorate its silver jubilee anniversary next month as the national ICT regulator.

CA’s facilitative regulatory regime has enabled connectivity across the country, enabling consumer choice and access to ICT services for citizens and businesses.