Kenya has welcomed the approval of its candidature for membership of the digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), an international organisation focused on accelerating inclusive and sustainable growth in the digital economy.
The DCO Council approved Kenya's candidature alongside those of Albania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Zambia on 28 August.
The approval starts Kenya's formal accession process, rather than making the country a DCO member. Membership will take effect after Kenya completes its national accession procedures and deposits its instrument of accession.
Ambassador Philip Thigo, Kenya's special envoy on technology, said the move would give the country access to practical tools, investment networks and partnerships to support its digital economy.
He cited the Digital Economy Navigator as one of the DCO's tools.
The platform benchmarks countries against 145 indicators, helping Kenya assess its competitiveness, identify areas for improvement and identify opportunities to attract investment.
“Through its Digital Foreign Direct Investment work, the DCO helps countries translate digital policy and reforms into actual investment,” Thigo said.
The DCO has facilitated more than $700 million in digital investment commitments through its ecosystem, according to figures cited in reporting on Kenya's membership bid.
Thigo added: "For our young people, startups and innovators, programmes like STRIDE and InvestConnect connect entrepreneurs with investors, markets and opportunities."
He said participating startups had already raised more than $21 million. His LinkedIn profile carries the same statement and identifies him as Kenya's Special Envoy on Technology.
The STRIDE Acceleration Programme supports startups seeking to expand across borders, while InvestConnect connects entrepreneurs with investors, markets and potential partners.
The DCO was founded in 2020 by Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and works to promote digital cooperation, including digital policy, trade, skills, innovation and cross-border digital activity.
The DCO's current 16 member states collectively represent nearly 800 million people.
If the eight approved candidatures complete the accession process, membership will expand to 24 countries representing approximately 980 million people, according to the DCO.
Kenya has been expanding its digital infrastructure and skills initiatives.
ITWeb Africa reported in April that more than 300 public digital hubs were operating, with 199 additional hubs under construction in 22 constituencies.
The country is also targeting 120 000 people for digital-skills training over three years, as part of efforts to increase participation in the digital economy.
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