Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP)

The Government of Kenya recently received a US$390 million grant from the World Bank to support the development of the digital economy, a key pillar in Kenya’s economic growth. The project, dubbed the ‘Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP),’ will be carried out in three phases, with phase one covering the following key components.

1. Digital Infrastructure and Services- This component aims to increase access to high-speed internet for individuals, industry, and government, to support the growth of the digital economy and strengthen Kenya’s role as regional digital leader.

2. Digital Government and Services- This component will invest in the foundational digital services, platforms, architectures, and policies needed to transform the way the government communicates and conducts its internal operations. 

3. Digital Skills and Markets- The goal of this component is to equip young Kenyans with digital skills and strengthen their abilities to access and compete in domestic and regional markets through skills development. It will provide mechanisms to improve access to affordable devices and by enhancing the enabling environment for e-commerce to support Kenya’s role as a regional digital hub. 

The fourth and fifth components will mainly support overall project implementation and coordination of emergency response in the event of an emergency. 

U.S. information technology companies are well-regarded for their innovative digital technologies and after the sale service and training making them competitive in Kenya’s market. Key subsector opportunities include areas such as software development, eCommerce, computer network infrastructure, and more.

Procurement for these projects will be through Open International Competitive Bidding, with specific procurement notices to be announced as they become available. More information on this can be found on the UN Development Business online portal, the World Bank’s external website, the ICT Authority website www.icta.go.ke, and the Public Procurement Information Portal www.ppip.go.ke.  

For more information contact: Janet Mwangi, Senior Commercial Specialist, US Commercial Service – Nairobi Email: Janet.mwangi@trade.gov