New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): Kenya is adopting elements of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including UPI-style instant payments and DigiLocker-like digital document storage systems, in a move aimed at improving governance efficiency and expanding digital services, according to a report.
The initiative seeks to address long-standing challenges in Kenya’s administrative system, including bureaucratic delays and fragmented identity records. The adoption of these digital systems is expected to speed up public service delivery and boost digital commerce in the country.
Under pilot projects running between 2023 and 2026, Kenya is integrating India-inspired payment and document verification systems to improve government-to-citizen services, education platforms, and small business transactions. The framework is also designed to work alongside existing mobile money systems such as M-Pesa.
The pilots combine instant payment mechanisms similar to India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with digital identity-linked systems like Kenya’s “Maisha Namba,” enabling faster verification and reducing paperwork in areas such as education, healthcare, and public services.
A report noted that early results indicate faster processing of identity documents and reduced administrative delays, with potential for broader rollout in the coming years. The system is also expected to improve transparency and reduce instances of fraud.
Kenya formalised its engagement in early 2026 by signing an implementation framework for a DigiLocker-style pilot, customised with technical support from India’s National e-Governance Division (NeGD).
India’s DPI ecosystem, which includes Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker, has been widely recognised for enabling large-scale digital inclusion and efficient service delivery, and is increasingly being studied and adapted by other countries.
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