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Kenya has secured the sixth position in the latest report on the state of digital rights and inclusion across Africa. The Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa Report—Londa is the continent’s most comprehensive assessment of digital rights. It covers 29 countries spanning all five regions of Africa: Central, East, North, South, and West.
In the latest report, the country has jumped three places, up from 9th place in 2024.
In the 2025 report, South Africa has retained its top position as Africa’s leading digital rights-respecting country for the second time in a row. It is followed by Ghana, Namibia, Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi and Nigeria in that order.
Kenya and Rwanda in the top ten in East Africa
The research draws on desk-based legal and policy analysis, secondary data review, key informant interviews with regulators and sector stakeholders, and media monitoring to assess trends, developments, and emerging challenges.
Kenya and Rwanda are the only countries featured among the top ten in East Africa. The country’s score is 37 out of 60, which is a three-point improvement on last year’s performance, placing it as moderately compliant with international digital rights standards, well below South Africa’s benchmark score of 47 out of 60.
According to the report, “Kenya’s media landscape is among the most vibrant on the continent, though journalists face harassment and intimidation, and press-freedom restricting laws remain on the books.”
Rwanda scored 36 out of 60, retaining its 2024 score. The country performed well in infrastructure and e-government, but continued to record low scores in freedom of expression and in arbitrary arrests. Kenya marginally outperforms Rwanda overall, more so in judicial independence and emerging technology strategy.
Londa Report urges Kenyan to take more pro-digital rights actions
The Londa 2025 report has issued a series of recommendations to the Kenyan government. It calls for an end to internet throttling and disruptions during protests, alongside the repeal of overbroad provisions in the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Amendment Act 2024. The report also urges adequate resourcing for the Data Protection Commissioner, the development of a comprehensive AI regulatory framework, and efforts to bridge the urban-rural digital divide.
The report also calls on the government to develop harmonised regulations for cross-border data transfers and data localisation. It further recommends clear rules on cloud contracts to safeguard public data.
These measures would ensure that sensitive Kenyan information is protected under domestic law. Additionally, it calls on the government to expand affordable connectivity by prioritising infrastructure in rural, informal and marginalised communities.
The report is compiled by Paradigm Initiative, a leading pan-African organisation advocating for digital rights and inclusion. Kenya and 28 other African countries were evaluated using the Score Index, a 12-point indicator that ranks countries by performance.
Key indicators include access to information, freedom of expression, privacy protections, and digital inclusion, among others. The index highlights areas for improvement and persistent structural challenges across the region.
Most improved countries in the ranking: Botswana and Egypt
The most improved countries in the ranking are Botswana and Egypt, which moved up by more than nine places. This performance stood in sharp contrast to Nigeria and Cameroon, which dropped by five and ten places respectively. Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan also experienced declines in their rankings. These countries now find themselves among the bottom five on the continent.
The report provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of internet freedoms, policy environments, and emerging digital rights risks across the continent. It provides an annual benchmark of progress and setbacks in digital rights protection, drawing on extensive country-level research and stakeholder engagement.
Londa is named after a Zulu word meaning “to protect or defend” and serves as a call to action for safeguarding digital rights on the continent.
