Kenya's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector experiences growth during Q3, fueled by an increase in mobile and internet usage.

Kenya's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector experiences growth during Q3, fueled by an increase in mobile and internet usage.

Kenya's ICT Sector Thrives Amidst Growing Cyber Threats

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) reported robust growth in the country's ICT sector during the third quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year. The sector, driven by demand for faster 4G and 5G connections, saw a significant increase in broadband subscriptions, reaching 44.44 million. This growth was also fueled by expanding network infrastructure, increased device availability, and rising digital adoption across Kenya.

The growth was not limited to broadband subscriptions alone. Smartphone connections climbed to 42.35 million, while active mobile subscriptions increased by 6.7% to 76.16 million, pushing penetration to 145.3%. SMS traffic hit 14.32 billion messages, and voice traffic rose to 28.88 billion minutes.

Major gains were recorded in mobile, internet, and broadcasting services. Mobile data subscriptions increased by 1.9% to 57.17 million, while fixed internet subscriptions grew by 8.1% to 1.86 million. Fibre optic uptake rose by 6.1%, and cable TV showed the highest growth at 31.5%. However, satellite subscriptions dropped by 9.9%, primarily due to reduced Starlink usage.

The growth in the ICT sector has not gone unnoticed, with cyber threats surging by 201.7% to 2.54 billion. Feature phones reached 32.57 million, and the spike in cyber threats underscores the need for stronger security measures.

To address this surge in cyber threats, Kenya's ICT sector employs several current cybersecurity measures. These measures include a multi-agency information sharing system embedded in the ICT policy framework, enabling collaborative cybercrime prevention across government agencies and the private sector, such as mobile network operators Airtel and Safaricom.

The financial sector also has a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, featuring a specialized incident response team, a regulatory cybersecurity framework that is regularly updated, and rigorous security reviews before approving financial applications and systems. The national cybersecurity strategy (2025–2029) is also undergoing ongoing revisions, emphasizing AI integration, legal frameworks, and international cooperation to enhance cyber defenses.

An updated Cloud Policy provides guidelines for cloud adoption, supporting AI and new technologies, and reinforcing cybersecurity and data protection principles, especially for cross-border data flows. However, implementation challenges remain in some regulatory bodies due to limited funding, poor coordination, cultural resistance, and bureaucratic delays, indicating a need for streamlined procurement, stronger leadership, and public-private partnerships to maximize effectiveness.

Together, these measures reflect Kenya’s holistic approach centered on digital innovation empowerment, institutional collaboration, strengthened regulatory frameworks, and capacity building to combat increasing cyber threats. This approach aims to ensure the continued growth and security of Kenya's ICT sector in the years to come.

[1] Multi-agency information sharing embedded in Kenya's ICT policy framework [2] Development of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy for the financial sector [3] Ongoing revisions of the national cybersecurity strategy (2025–2029) [4] Updated Cloud Policy

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