Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the European Union on digital standardisation as part of efforts to advance the country’s digital transformation agenda, a move that could position the nation as a regional leader in ICT governance.
The commitment was made during a high-level meeting between Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Stephen Isaboke and Principal Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy John Tanui with a delegation from the European Union-funded Global Gateway ICT Standards (GIST) Project.
The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the development and adoption of internationally recognised digital standards across several priority areas, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital identity, interoperability, broadband infrastructure, and digital governance. The engagement is expected to support the implementation of Kenya’s Digital Superhighway initiative and other flagship programmes aimed at expanding digital connectivity, improving public service delivery, and accelerating the growth of the digital economy.
The timing is significant, as the EU recently adopted its own Cyber Resilience Act, which is expected to set a global benchmark for digital product security. The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) are also creating new paradigms for online platforms that ripple across global supply chains. Engaging with the EU is a strategic necessity for Kenya, as its ICT sector cannot afford to be sidelined from these emerging global norms.
The principal secretaries noted that globally recognised ICT standards are essential for building secure, interoperable, and trusted digital systems. They added that adopting international standards would help drive innovation, facilitate cross-border digital services, and improve the competitiveness of Kenyan digital solutions in regional and global markets.
This is particularly critical as Kenya has ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol on Digital Trade, which aims to ease cross-border data flows and e-commerce. A lack of common standards could become a significant non-tariff barrier, with companies forced to navigate a patchwork of different technical requirements across Africa. By aligning with international best practices, Kenya can better position its digital economy for regional integration.
The discussions also underscored the importance of knowledge sharing, technical capacity building, and the adoption of international best practices to strengthen Kenya’s digital standards ecosystem. This collaborative approach builds on existing initiatives under the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, which has already seen over 300 Kenyan and European companies partner to boost exports and trade.
Kenya and the European Union reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening cooperation on standards-driven digital innovation, enhancing the resilience of the country’s digital ecosystem, and positioning Kenya as a regional leader in digital transformation.
The Standardisation Partnership is a proactive and essential move. It seeks to ensure that Kenya’s digital economy operates on a level playing field, built on robust and internationally accepted foundations. This strategic collaboration could provide a blueprint for other African nations seeking to modernise their digital governance frameworks and attract global investment.
