The World Bank has ranked Kenya favorably in an evaluation of African countries in its adoption of digital technologies in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a report titled, Covid-19 and the future of work in Africa: Emerging trends in digital technology adoption, the international body noted that African countries were increasingly adopting digital technologies to boost productivity in current jobs, and increase employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth.
Kenya was ranked second in the ICT readiness in Sub-Saharan African Countries. Out of a score of 100, Kenya got in 59 points in its National ICT strategy, Business Environment (54), infrastructure (38), financial capital (62), and ICT skill base (23).
Kenya was second behind South Africa and before Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Cote D'Ivoire, and Angola.
Digital technologies were identified to be critical for addressing the region’s major development challenges, such as economic diversification, health, education, food security, and governance.
The report found that on average, firms in East and Southern Africa were more likely than those in West and Central Africa to have started or expanded their use of digital platforms.
Kenya was ranked fifth in probability in taking up digital platforms after Nigeria, Togo, Senegal and South Africa.
"Nigeria and Kenya have emerged as epicenters of the financial technology (fintech) boom in the region. They are using inexpensive, accessible technologies to mobilize consumers in innovative ways—for instance, digital loans (M-Shwari in Kenya) and savings and investment platforms (PiggyVest and Cowrywise in Nigeria)," the report read in part.
World Bank noted that non-resource-intensive countries, such as Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya, and mining-dependent economies, such as Botswana and Guinea, we're expected to see robust growth in 2021, driven by a rebound in private consumption and investment as confidence strengthens and exports increase.
In the Covid-19 pandemic, the report added that medical devices were manufactured by 3D printing companies in Kenya.
"Industrial policies that required some technical upgrading involved the repurposing of existing manufacturing firms to meet the demand for personal protective equipment, sanitizers, and testing kits - particularly in the garment industry in Ghana and Kenya"
World Bank stated that despite suffering its first recession in nearly two decades, the economic tide was turned with output contraction easing substantially in 2020 Q3, helped by strong agricultural growth.
"Kenya is projected to see solid growth in 2021, as exports of agricultural products benefit from a pick-up in global demand and the reduced threat from locusts," the report conveyed.
