Good observation Adam. Thank you David for the blog. I had to dig through the report <https://www.knbs.or.ke/reports/2023-24-kenya-housing-survey-basic-report/>, and there is a methodology: "These indicators followed the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) guidelines, ensuring alignment with global standards. The reference period for the data collected was three months, and respondents included individuals from the age of three" pg 48. "Response Rates: Out of the 25,900 households sampled for the survey, 23,166 were found to be eligible. A household is considered to be eligible if it meets one of the following criteria: it is identified and successfully interviewed; it is identified but refuses to respond; it is identified but no competent respondent is available at home during visits; or it is identified, the interview is started and then postponed. Among the eligible households, 21,347 completed the questionnaire, resulting in a national household response rate of 92.1 per cent. The response rate was higher in rural areas at 94.0 percent compared to 89.9 percent in urban areas." pg 20 KEBS should have disaggregated the data on age groups so that it is better to understand the disparities metrics on age. Children in Kenya's "middle" class own a phone. Some have a phone, a tablet, and a computer. Therefore the methodology can collect data on age groups, rural-urban, and household income levels. Digging on ITU data: "Globally, four out of five individuals 10 years or older own a mobile phone. Universal ownership, meaning a penetration rate of over 95 percent, has been reached in high-income economies. This stands in contrast with low-income economies, where only 56 percent of the population aged 10 years and over own a mobile phone." https://www.itu.int/itu-d/reports/statistics/2024/11/10/ff24-mobile-phone-ow... Best Regards, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva On Thu, 16 Jan 2025 at 14:39, Adam Lane via KICTANet < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

David

Thank you for the great summary post.

I note that the statistics from KNBS are for the percentage of the population aged 3 and above. Personally I believe that leads to distorted numbers. I don’t believe the population number denominator should be that high, since do we really want or expect 3 year olds or 6 years to be owning phones? Maybe a certain age of child could be using (but not owning) a device (Whether a phone or tablet or laptop). Therefore the percentages would actually be better than they look (if only looking at the population of Kenyas aged say 15 and above, not aged 3 and above, for example).

This is certainly not a criticism of your post, but a criticism of KNBS really, and making sure all readers look at these percentages with that issue in mind.

Regards

Adam

*From:* David Indeje via KICTANet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Sent:* Thursday, 16 January 2025 10:14 *To:* Adam Lane <adam.lane@huawei.com> *Cc:* David Indeje <dindeje@kictanet.or.ke> *Subject:* [kictanet] Digital Divide in Kenya: Data Reveals Disparities

Dear Listers,

This week, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics has published various documents that reveal that we have a long way to go to ensure equitable access and usage to ICT as a country. Below are key findings from the 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey

- *Uneven ICT Access:* Significant disparities exist in computer and internet access across Kenyan counties. - *Urban-Rural Divide:* Urban areas exhibit higher ICT usage than rural areas. - *Gender Gap:* Males generally have higher internet usage than females, particularly in rural areas. - *Regional Disparities:* Nairobi leads in ICT access, while counties like Mandera and Marsabit lag. - *Economic Impact:* Higher ICT access correlates with greater contributions to the Gross County Product (GCP).

KICTANet believes that bridging the digital divide is crucial for inclusive economic growth in Kenya and investing in digital infrastructure and literacy programs in underserved regions is essential.

https://www.kictanet.or.ke/digital-divide-in-kenya-ict-access-and-usage-data...

--

*Kind Regards,*

*David Indeje*

*@**K**ICT**A**Net* <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/>* Communications * _____________________________________

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