computers stolen
Kenya
is now ranked second behind South Africa in terms of the size of
population that has access to the Internet, this is according to a new
study by an American researcher.
Four
out of every ten Kenyan adults use the Internet at least daily, behind
South Africa, where 42 per cent of the adult population has access to
the web, according to findings by Pew Research Centre.
According
to research, a quarter of Kenya’s adult population owns a smartphone or
other digital devices such as computer tablets, placing the country
third on the continent behind South Africa at 37 per cent and Nigeria’s
28 per cent score.
Pew
Research conducted the study in 40 countries across the globe, using
telephone and face-to-face interviews carried out last year.
Kenya’s
high Internet access is attributed to availability of low value data
packages and low-cost smartphones, especially from Asian device
manufacturers.
According
to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics economic survey released in
April 2015, Kenya’s Internet penetration stood at 54.8 percent of the
population, that is 22.3 million Internet users.
The
growth was attributed to increased affordability of Internet services
that saw the price of browsing the Internet become more affordable.
According
to the report, the growth of E-commerce also led to increased usage of
the Internet, with Kenyans taking up online shopping.
Kenyans have also used the Internet for services such as reading online newspapers and accessing online banking services.
The
government has also invested in e-government services such as online
renewal of driving licenses that have driven the surge in Internet
usage.
Internet
services in Kenya are delivered through various platforms such
as mobile service providers, fixed wireless access, satellite networks,
fiber optic and cable networks.