Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly reshaping global economies by driving productivity, expanding financial inclusion, and improving service delivery. In India alone, AI-driven financial technologies support over 530 million users through the Unified Payments Interface system, while AI-powered healthcare platforms such as eSanjeevani have delivered more than 100 million consultations, demonstrating how digital innovation is becoming a measurable force in economic and social transformation. AI is set to redefine how societies function, innovate, and compete. The 2017 PwC Global Artificial Intelligence Report projected that AI will contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, representing the largest commercial opportunity in the current era. AI is expected to exceed previous productivity gains, potentially creating over $9 trillion in additional GDP. While 97% of business leaders acknowledge AI's impact on their organisations and 77% of companies already use or explore AI, millions in the developing world are still offline or digitally excluded. 

Automation alone is expected to boost productivity by up to 40%. While the global cloud computing market is estimated to exceed $1 trillion by 2032, a rise from $110 billion in 2024. These numbers illustrate a digital revolution that brings immense wealth but also widens the gap between those who can benefit and those who cannot. 

Figure 1: Which regions will gain the most from AI? 

Source: PwC Global Artificial Study 2017 

Figure 1 highlights how AI is reshaping global economies unevenly. China and North America are on track to lead, with a combined GDP impact of $10.7 trillion by 2030. This represents approximately 69% of the total global economy due to strong infrastructure and aggressive AI adoption. Developed areas, such as Northern Europe and Developed Asia, also see significant increases. Conversely, Latin America and Africa lag, with AI contributing only 5.4% and 5.6% to their GDPs, respectively. This gap does not stem from a lack of interest or innovation in these regions. Instead, it reflects structural challenges like limited digital infrastructure, underinvestment, energy shortages, and a lack of advanced tech skills. 

In 2024, the International Trade Administration recognised Kenya as one of Africa’s leading digital economies. Mobile money platforms, digital financial services, and a vibrant technology ecosystem have positioned the country as a regional hub for innovation. However, according to Kenya’s Digital Landscape 2025 report, only 27.4 million Kenyans, about 48% of the population, have internet access, showing a heavy skew in usage.  Urban centres like Nairobi report connectivity rates above 60%, thanks to solid telecommunications infrastructure and higher household incomes. On the other hand, counties such as Turkana and West Pokot have connectivity rates below 15%, highlighting ongoing infrastructure challenges in rural and arid regions. 

The Global Digital Report shows 42.1% of Kenyan internet users aged 16+ used ChatGPT in the past month during the report period (July 2025), which was the highest rate globally. This statistic reflects Kenya’s openness to new technologies. However, it also reveals a paradox: while urban users experiment with cutting-edge AI tools, millions of citizens remain excluded from the basic digital infrastructure required to participate in the same technological ecosystem. In other words, Kenya simultaneously represents both the promise and the inequality of the digital age. 

As digital access increasingly defines economic participation, bridging this divide is no longer optional; it’s an economic imperative. Globally, approximately 68 per cent of the world’s population, around 5.5 billion people, were online in 2024, according to the International Telecommunication Union. However, this still leaves approximately 2.6 billion people offline, most of whom live in developing regions.  

The contrast between high-income and low-income countries is stark: in high-income nations, roughly 93% of the population is connected, whereas in low-income countries, the rate may fall to around 27%. As the world continues to make progress on connectivity, the advances mask significant gaps in the world’s most vulnerable communities, where digital exclusion makes life even more challenging. 

These disparities are not just statistics; they reflect the realities of opportunity, access, and inclusion. In rural regions globally, only about 48% of people are online compared with 83% in urban areas, highlighting how geography remains a strong determinant of digital access.  Meanwhile, the continent of Africa recorded just 38% internet usage in 2024, far below the global average of 68%.  

Kenya mirrors this global pattern internally. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and the Communications Authority of Kenya 2023–2024 ICT Analytical Report show that only 27.1 per cent of Kenyan households have an internet connection, combining both mobile and fixed networks. 

Figure 2: Mobile Phone Ownership by County. 

Source: Analytical Report on ICT Based on the 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey (KHS) 

Fig 2 shows that while mobile broadband dominates connectivity in Kenya, fixed broadband services are mainly found in cities. About 15.4% of urban households have access to fixed internet compared to just 0.5% of rural households. These numbers reveal a digital divide influenced by geography, infrastructure investment, and income levels. 

Figure 3: Mobile Phone Usage by County. 

Source: Analytical Report on ICT Based on the 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey (KHS) 

The differences in mobile phone ownership and usage shown in Figure 3 extend to internet access and connectivity. Despite the rise in internet usage, there are still significant inequalities among residents regarding access and connectivity, as Figure 4 below clearly demonstrates. 

Figure 4: Proportion of households connected to the internet, owned a computer by residence, 2019 KPHC and 2023/24 KHS. 

Source: Analytical Report on ICT Based on the 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey (KHS) 

Figure 5: Proportion of Individuals who Used the Internet by County 

Source: Analytical Report on ICT Based on the 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey (KHS) 

Even though internet access has been growing across the country, Figure 5 still reflects uneven growth. Not all regions benefit equally from digital resources, learning opportunities, and services. As a result, the rapid increase in internet access has widened the gap between well-connected and poorly connected counties, reinforcing connectivity inequality in the AI age. 

Despite these challenges, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya, as of June 30, 2025, Kenya’s total data subscriptions had grown to 58.5 million, marking a 27.3 per cent increase from 52.5 million the previous year. Of these, 78.2 per cent were on mobile broadband, with 4G services accounting for a dominant 81.2 per cent of broadband subscriptions, positioning Kenya as a regional digital hub. Yet the paradox remains: high connectivity does not automatically mean high inclusion. Millions of Kenyans still rely on basic phones or low-speed connections, limiting their access to online learning, e-commerce, and digital government services. This shows clear technology inequality in the age of AI, where those without reliable internet or smart devices are unable to benefit from modern digital opportunities. 

In essence, the access divide in Kenya mirrors the global digital inequality debate. Connectivity is no longer about whether people can get online, but about how well and for what purpose they can use that access.  

Closing Kenya’s digital divide will require deliberate and sustained policy action. Government should focus on creating an enabling environment For Digital inclusion by reducing taxes and import barriers on digital devices and ICT equipment, while leveraging universal service funds and public–private partnerships to support broadband expansion in underserved regions. At the same time, encouraging local assembly and lowering the cost of devices can make smartphones and digital tools more accessible to low-income households. Digital literacy must also grow alongside connectivity, with schools, TVET institutions, and community programs equipping citizens with the skills needed to participate fully in the digital economy. Finally, as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to global development, Kenya must begin strengthening its AI readiness through investment in research capacity, data infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks that support innovation while protecting citizens’ rights. 

In conclusion, Kenya’s digital progress in the age of AI will remain incomplete if access to connectivity is uneven. As technology increasingly influences access to jobs, education, and essential services, limited connectivity has become a key form of inequality. The real divide is no longer just about being online but about the quality, reliability, and affordability of that connection, and who can use it in meaningful ways to improve their lives. When large segments of the population stay under-connected, true inclusion becomes hard to attain. Bridging this gap will require sustained investment in infrastructure, more affordable devices, and improved digital literacy. If Kenya prioritises inclusive connectivity, it can keep pace with the digital age and ensure that every citizen has a fair opportunity to participate in and benefit from it.