With a flourishing ICT sector that has grown by an average of 10.8% every year since 2016 and as a home to some of Africa’s most innovative start-ups, Kenya’s nickname of “Silicon Savanah” couldn’t be more fitting. Couple this thriving technology hub with our impressive overall Internet penetration (approximately 85.2% of the population use the Internet) and COVID-19’s acceleration of digital adoption, and you have a country that is gearing up for the digital economy.
But, can Kenya benefit even more from digital growth? In short, yes. While we have made great strides towards digital transformation, more needs to be done to improve and enhance connectivity – the very foundation that the digital economy is built on. Casey Torgusson, the World Bank’s Senior Digital Specialist and contributor to the ‘Kenya Economic Update: Securing Future Growth’ report, explained it best – “Building strong digital foundations will be critical to the country’s long-term su
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The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says the global economy is projected to grow at 5.5 per cent this year and four per cent next year, raising hopes of faster recovery from the disruption of Covid-19 than earlier expected.
“Prospects have improved markedly in recent months, helped by the gradual deployment of effective vaccines, announcements of additional fiscal support in some countries and signs that economies are coping better with measures to suppress the virus,” said the OECD in a report published this month.
The report says India is expected to record the highest growth this year at 12.6 per cent, followed by China and the United States at 7.8 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively.
Uhuru s Remarks on Curfew Restrictions Spell Hope
President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House on Monday, February 8, 2020.
Twitter
President Uhuru Kenyatta s remarks on lifting curfew restrictions ignited a beam of hope among Kenyans.
Speaking during the unveiling of a new warehouse at the Kenya Railways Transit Cargo shed on Wednesday, February 10, Uhuru hinted at lifting the nationwide curfew. Ata tukifungua, mtakuwa na utaratibu mwema? Tujue lazima tujitunze na tutunze wenzetu, haswa wale wazee,
(If we lift the curfew, will you behave? We must take care of ourselves and reduce the risk of infecting the elderly)
A police officer carrying out a security operation.
Kenya Worse Than Zimbabwe in Extreme Poverty - World Bank Report
Logo at the entrance of World Bank Building in Washington DC, USA.
File
Kenya has been ranked as the third poorest lower-middle-income country globally according to the latest report released by the World Bank titled
State of Economic Inclusion Report 2021.
The report revealed that over 40 percent of Kenyans live in extreme poverty, 17 percent higher than Zimbabwe which has previously been regarded as one of the poorest countries in the world.
Zimbabwe has 23 percent of its population living in extreme poverty.
An aerial photo of Nairobi
Eddy Mwanza
Zambia was listed as the poorest lower-middle-income country with a poverty rate of 61 percent. Nigeria followed closely with 58 percent. Kenya was third while Cote d Ivoire emerged fourth with 30 percent.