In Kenya today, digital transformation is reshaping everything, from how citizens access government services to how farmers sell their produce. Yet millions in rural counties remain cut off, held back by high data costs, limited skills, and the fear of “modern systems.” Women juggling unpaid care work, persons with disabilities navigating inaccessible platforms, older adults intimidated by digital processes, and unemployed youth without guidance are the most affected. Without foundational digital skills, they miss out on essential services and economic opportunities, widening Kenya’s digital divide.
To reduce this gap, the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme (UKDAP), through the African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT), partnered with the Government of Kenya and the ICT Authority (ICTA) under the Digitally Enabled Gender Equity and Social Inclusion DEGESI project. The model introduced a practical, last-mile solution: Community Digital Champions (CDCs), local young people trained to deliver foundational digital skills directly within villages, markets, homes, and community halls. This approach complements ICTA’s Kenya National Digital Master Plan (2022–2032), which seeks to equip 20 million citizens with digital literacy. DEGESI served as a bridge between national policy and community reality, ensuring that even the most marginalised citizens could participate in the digital economy.
The Challenge: When Digital Services Feel Out of Reach
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has embraced bold digital reforms, including rolling out the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS), deploying artificial intelligence (AI) for customs screening and tax filing, and redesigning online platforms to simplify compliance. Yet for many rural citizens in the country, these digital advances felt distant and daunting. On June 30th, 2025, as millions rushed to beat the KRA tax filing deadline, 27-year-old Obadiah Kimutai sat in Iten, unsure where to begin. Without a formal job, he believed online tax filing “was not for people like him,” a misconception shared by many left behind by Kenya’s rapid digital shift.
“I thought only employed people needed to file returns,” he said.
“Every year, I missed the deadline because I didn’t know how.”
This led to penalties, dependency on brokers to file his tax returns, and exclusion from digital services, a story repeated by countless rural citizens.
A Local Solution for Last-Mile Digital Inclusion
In February 2025, Abigael, a 26-year-old graduate from the University of Eldoret, came across an online advert calling for applications to become a CDC. To her, it was more than just another training opportunity; it was a chance to sharpen her own digital skills while serving her community. She applied and was selected. Trained under DEGESI using ICTA’s national curriculum, she acquired basic digital skills and the ability to teach foundational digital skills to others in accessible, relatable ways. She learned to navigate eCitizen, iTax, digital safety modules, mobile productivity tools, and assistive technologies for persons with disabilities (PWDs). The training was hands-on, practical, and designed for real community needs. Abigael began cascading her training across villages and markets. Though assigned a target of 150 learners, she reached 273 people, offering personalised, multilingual sessions (English, Kiswahili, and local dialect).
The Turning Point: Obadiah was one of those who benefited from Abigael’s digital skills. Abigael opened the iTax portal and patiently guided him through logging in, selecting the correct form, entering the details, and submitting a nil return. For the first time, he submitted his returns confidently, a small digital victory that unlocked a new sense of independence.
“Before this, I had to pay someone to do it. Abigael made it simple and free,” Obadiah recalled.
Obadiah’s story represents a national transformation. In the financial year 2024/2025, KRA surpassed revenue targets, collecting KES. 2.571 trillion, but these gains rely on citizens being able to use digital systems confidently. DEGESI ensured rural communities were not left behind as Kenya digitised.
The impact goes far beyond tax filling
Obadiah’s story was just one of many. Through Abigael’s digital skills cascading sessions, elderly farmers learned to check KRA nil-return requirements, boda-boda riders gained confidence in using eCitizen to apply for licenses, and women traders explored digital platforms to apply for government bursaries. Women traders used mobile marketplaces to expand their customer base beyond the village, while older citizens learnt how to apply for pensions online without relying on costly brokers. Even local shopkeepers realised they could save money by using mobile-enabled record systems rather than paper books. Many also took advantage of the KRA amnesty programme, which cleared their past penalties and gave them a fresh start. Through these cascading sessions, Abigael was not just teaching; she was transforming everyday struggles into digital victories. Step by step, citizen by citizen, she was building a new culture of inclusion and confidence in Iten. This ripple effect is slowly reshaping how entire communities engage with Kenya’s digital economy.
Sustainability Beyond the Project
Abigael’s journey reflects the sustainability built into this model. Through continued access to ICTA’s Smart Academy and ACWICT’s online learning platform, and through partnerships with internet service providers, CDCs remain connected to updated skills, and communities continue to benefit long after training ends. She now hopes to open a community cyber hub, a sustainable pathway for ongoing digital access. The DEGESI initiative proves that when local champions are empowered, national goals become achievable.