March 2021 agricultural “platforms” in a digital era

Presence and adoption of digital technologies 
Compared to many other African countries, Kenya has strong mobile and digital access, connectivity, and adoption. GSMA 
scores Kenya’s mobile connectivity as among the top five in sub-Saharan Africa. The country was among the first African 
markets where mobile money was developed, pioneered by Safaricom’s M-Pesa; currently, mobile money is used by over 
72% of the rural population.
Many enterprises—including pipeline businesses and Platforms, and both traditional and digital 
enterprises—build or rely on mobile money solutions. This foundation of existing digital solutions and mobile and digital 
connectivity provides a fertile ground for Digital Platforms.
Regulatory environment supportive of private sector 
The World Bank scores Kenya high in its Ease of Doing Business and Enabling the Business of Agriculture rankings, with the 
country ranked among the top three most attractive business environments in Africa in both of these indices. The government 
actively plans to shift farmers online, both through the adoption of digital solutions in public extension and by becoming an 
attractive environment for businesses, entrepreneurs, and talent.
Presence and activity of donors 
Many digital solutions and Digital Platforms in Africa receive support from donors—and among these, most donor programs 
launch or pilot in Kenya. The country receives high amounts of Official Development Assistance, placing consistently among the 
four largest recipients in Africa, in absolute terms. Virtually all major development organizations have a presence in Kenya, 
and in many cases their (East) African headquarters are in Nairobi. The presence of development organizations and donors 
in Kenya plays a catalytic role, supporting many agricultural tech enterprises with technical assistance, grant financing, and 
other kinds of support. This creates a space for development and piloting of innovative new digital and Platform business models.