The European Union and Kenya have launched the EU–Kenya Digital Dialogue, a new platform to enhance cooperation in digital policy and technological innovation. This initiative makes Kenya the first African nation to establish such a formal dialogue with the EU
Discussions which held on Thursday 18, June 2026 centered on strengthening collaboration under the evolving DTC II strategic framework, with emphasis on expanding partnerships in open-source innovation, business process outsourcing (BPO), and private sector engagement between Kenya and Europe.
Principal Secretary for the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, CBS, has held high-level discussions with a delegation from the European Union (EU), Germany, Estonia, and France focused on advancing Kenya’s digital transformation agenda through the Digital Transformation Center Kenya (DTC II) initiative.
The delegation included representatives from the EU, the German Embassy in Kenya, GIZ Kenya, the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), and Expertise France. The engagement brought together key international partners supporting Kenya’s shift from digital policy formulation to large-scale implementation.
Tanui noted that digital transformation is increasingly becoming the “operating system” of modern governance and economic competitiveness, highlighting Kenya’s commitment to a whole-of-government approach in building a robust digital economy.
Discussions centered on strengthening collaboration under the evolving DTC II strategic framework, with emphasis on expanding partnerships in open-source innovation, business process outsourcing (BPO), and private sector engagement between Kenya and Europe.
The talks also focused on three key pillars guiding the programme: expanding global digital jobs and ICT-enabled employment opportunities; advancing artificial intelligence, data protection, and data governance frameworks; and strengthening digital public infrastructure (DPI) and digital public goods (DPGs) to improve service delivery and interoperability across government systems.
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In addition, stakeholders underscored the importance of building trusted digital ecosystems and improving regulatory alignment to support Kenya’s ongoing efforts toward achieving an EU Adequacy Decision. This milestone is expected to enhance confidence in Kenya’s data protection regime, facilitate cross-border data flows, and strengthen digital trade and outsourcing opportunities.
The engagement reflects growing international confidence in Kenya’s digital ecosystem and its positioning as a leading digital hub in Africa.
