Kenya's digital transformation continues to positively influence all facets of life as the government works towards digitising most public services.
This was affirmed by a new 2023 digital overview report by Meltwater, which has ranked Kenya as the number one country in the world that has the highest number of users who source and purchase products online.
According to the report, 65.4 per cent of Kenyan social media users between the age of 16 to 64 use social media primarily to find different products purposely for purchase, out of the total 5.158 billion internet users worldwide.
The report further detailed that the users visited different sites to view content specifically from their favourite brands.
Brazil and Indonesia were ranked second and third with 64.6 and 64.4 per cent respectively of social media users who purchase and view content from different brands online.
Further addressing internet usage, the 2023 report ranked Kenya second globally in the category of individuals who used social media for work-related activities at 54.6 per cent.
In this category, Kenya ranked below Nigeria which had 61.9 per cent of individuals using social media for work.
“These activities include networking and research and following contacts or companies that are relevant to work,” the report read in part.
When it comes to the number of social media users, Kenya leads East Africa with 59.1 per cent of internet users having at least one social media platform.
Tanzania follows with 17.4 per cent and Uganda ranks third with 17.4 per cent of social media users.
However, adult internet users in the country were reported to show a high level of concern about misinformation online ranking second globally after Nigeria.
The Meltwater report stated that when it came to countries offering cheap 1GB data plans, Kenya ranked third in Africa on average offering the package at Ksh107 and 27th globally.
As part of the government’s digitisation plan, State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services on February 20, revealed government agencies whose services would be fully digitised by June 2023.
The agencies included the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, Communications Authority, and National Cereals and Produce Board, the National Environment Management Authority, Kenya National Library Services, and the Kenya Airports Authority.
