Digital inclusion: The power behind Kenya’s sustainable development push
Karen Basiye, Director of Sustainable Business and Social Impact at Safaricom PLC.
Digital tools — from mobile devices to Artificial Intelligence (AI) -driven solutions— are no longer just enablers of communication; they are now at the heart of global progress toward a sustainable future.
The United Nations reports that digital technologies and data contribute to at least 70 percent of the 169 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. Even more striking, they have the potential to slash the cost of achieving these goals by up to $55 trillion.
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In Kenya, one of the boldest voices championing this shift is Karen Basiye, Director of Sustainable Business and Social Impact at Safaricom PLC, who sees digital inclusion not just as a tool —but a cornerstone of sustainable transformation.
“How we have championed digital inclusion at Safaricom is how we’ve created the sustainability strategy, the purpose strategy. If you look at our purpose strategy, we have been very strategic and thoughtful to have digital inclusion as a key parameter. So our strategy is anchored into two key pillars, people, that is transforming people, impacting society, and under people is where we have digital inclusion.”
“Then the next pillar of our strategy is planet ensuring that we catalyze a net positive future underpinned by doing the right thing,” she said.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) back this approach, highlighting that digital technology can directly benefit over two-thirds of the UN’s sustainability targets.
But digital inclusion isn’t simply about providing gadgets or broadband— it’s about building ecosystems. That includes expanding infrastructure to reach underserved communities, equipping people with digital skills, and creating pathways to meaningful employment within the digital economy.
Kenya’s journey toward digital-led sustainability underscores a global truth: where technology meets intention, real transformation happens.
On this Safaricom Newsroom Podcast, Karen talks about her journey in sustainability and how she is championing digital inclusion in her area of expertise.
