Comparative Analysis of Technology Development in Kenya, Estonia, and Mauritius: Pathways to Becoming a Digital Hub in East Africa

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of technology development in Kenya, Estonia, and Mauritius, focusing on how these countries have established themselves as leaders in the digital economy. It employs document analysis as the primary methodology, examining government reports, regulations, pieces of legislation, and case studies to identify best practices and strategies that Kenya can adopt to enhance its digital economy. The findings show that unlike Kenya and Mauritius, Estonia has made digital literacy compulsory for all citizens. It has also employed a citizen-oriented strategy in service delivery. By putting the needs of its citizens at the forefront of digital programs, the Estonian government has developed an efficient and user-friendly digital ecosystems and solutions. PPPs are also more valued in Estonia and Mauritius than in Kenya. As a matter of fact, in the former two countries, private industries build while governments acquire and do the implementation, something that is missing in Kenya. The findings also suggest that compared to Kenya and Mauritius, Estonia has invested heavily in digital literacy, accountable and transparent digital ecosystems, and cyber security. This approach encapsulates e-government’s potential when implemented with robust, steadfast and clear commitment, infrastructure, citizen empowerment, and vision. Estonia views e-government as a vehicle for strengthening democracy and not just building technology; this is the foundation upon which its digital transformation is established. Kenya has made huge strides to make many of its public services accessible online. However, it still has room for improvement in terms of exploiting PPPs to explore collaborations with local and foreign entities.