Smartphone and internet penetration has augmented the number of online readers in Kenya as the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) reports a 46% increase in readership.

According to the association's latest report, State of Internet in Kenya 2016, there were more than 18 million readers monthly on popular local blogs marking a sharp interest in online readership in Kenya.

"We tracked the 36 most active blogs within the BAKE server and the stats from individual blogs for the period between October 2015 and October 2016. According to our analysis of the data collected, the blogging scene has seen a huge growth in the terms of monthly readership in the last one year. Overall monthly visits (readers) increased by 46% from 12.4 million to 18.1 million," the report said.

One of the reasons BAKE gave to the sharp increase, is the uptake of mobile internet as smartphone penetration grows.

The Consumer Barometer Survey by Google showed that smarphone penetration in Kenya has increased from 27% in 2014 to 44% this year and it is expected to skyrocket due to the number of low cost smartphones being launched monthly.

Blogs have become an important channel for the Kenyan consumer. There are blogs that now apply professionalism and have hired qualified writers. Blogs like Ghafla (that was acquired by Ringier in 2016), Tuko and HapaKenya have offered solid content over the year.

However the report highlighted incidences that limited online freedom meted out by the state. These included bloggers being jailed or their sites being blocked.

Bloggers have expressed concern over a possible internet shutdown during the upcoming 2017 elections. "This action has been an emerging trend by various African countries during elections and has cast doubts of the Kenyan government maintaining the Internet since they have closely associated themselves with these countries including Gabon, Uganda and Ethiopia," the report observed.

However, the report observed that the need for local content will fuel the increase in readership in the coming year.

"But more importantly, blogs are seen by many Kenyans as authentic means to get news and opinions which mainstream media would normally shy away from. This could be described as Anti-Traditional Media Sentiment and the blogs are increasingly filling the gap," BAKE explained.

The association vowed to work with government agencies in formulating laws that would nurture the sector and not stifle the freedom of expression.