Nairobi: Kenya and the United Kingdom are strengthening their long-standing relationship through a renewed focus on digital transformation, innovation, artificial intelligence, and information and communication technology (ICT). According to Kenya News Agency, British High Commissioner to Kenya Mr. Matt Baugh indicated that as both countries seek to harness the opportunities presented by emerging technologies, their collaboration is evolving beyond traditional diplomatic and trade ties into a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating digital growth, fostering innovation, and creating economic opportunities.
Mr. Baugh noted that the relationship between Kenya and the UK has historically been built on trade, investment, education, and development cooperation. He added that recent years have seen digital transformation emerge as a key pillar of the partnership. The envoy pledged to deepen development cooperation with Nakuru County Government in digital skills, agriculture, education, innovation, and energy. He made the commitment during an official visit to the county to assess ongoing UK-Kenya development initiatives and identify opportunities for expanded collaboration.
Mr. Baugh was received by Deputy Governor Dr. David Kones, who led discussions on programs aimed at improving livelihoods and expanding opportunities for young people. A key focus was the ‘Skills for Inclusive Digital Participation (SIDP),’ supported by the British Council to help digitally excluded communities acquire practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship. The High Commissioner later visited the Bondeni Digital Hub in Nakuru Town East, where young people are receiving training in digital technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The visit comes as Kenya accelerates efforts to develop a digitally skilled workforce capable of participating in emerging industries and online work. The renewed cooperation comes at a time when Kenya is positioning itself as a leading digital economy in Africa. Through investments in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, digital skills development, cybersecurity, and innovation ecosystems, the country is pursuing an ambitious agenda to become a regional technology hub.
Mr. Baugh indicated that the United Kingdom continues to expand its engagement with African technology ecosystems, recognizing the continent’s growing importance in the global digital economy. In July 2025, Kenya and the United Kingdom signed a renewed Strategic Partnership covering the period 2025-2030, aiming to strengthen collaboration across several sectors, including technology, innovation, trade, climate action, and security.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy says Kenya faces shortages of advanced digital skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, coding, cybersecurity, and mobile application development. The skills gap has become increasingly important as technology changes the nature of work across sectors. A 2025 World Bank study found rising demand for digital competencies across occupations in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda.
The British Council says its SIDP program targets people who face digital exclusion, including young people, women, and persons with disabilities. The program seeks to equip participants with skills that enable them to access online information, services, and employment opportunities while improving their livelihoods. The initiative complements Kenya’s national digital transformation agenda, which identifies digital skills, innovation, digital businesses, and entrepreneurship as key drivers of economic transformation.
Deputy Governor Dr. Kones observed that Kenya has made significant progress in developing its digital economy over the past decade. He noted that the government’s Digital Master Plan 2022-2032 outlines a vision to transform Kenya into a globally competitive digital economy through investments in digital infrastructure, digital skills development, artificial intelligence, innovation ecosystems, e-government services, cybersecurity, and digital public infrastructure.
Dr. Kones stated that such partnerships help accelerate digital transformation, attract investment, strengthen innovation, and create employment opportunities. The Bondeni model seeks to address some of these challenges by taking digital training closer to underserved communities. Participants at the hub are gaining practical skills that can support self-employment and enable them to provide digital services to other businesses and individuals.
The visit brought together various county officials, emphasizing the growing role of county-level partnerships in translating national and international development priorities into practical opportunities for communities. For Nakuru, expanding digital skills through community hubs could help more young people move from digital consumption to productive participation in the economy.
