In 2026, a smartphone is not just a device; it is a shield. Gender activists are calling for "Digital Inclusion" to be recognized as a basic human right, arguing that the lack of internet access leaves women vulnerable to violence and economic exclusion.

A new report by the Communications Authority shows a 15% gender gap in mobile internet use in Kenya. Women in rural areas are less likely to own a smartphone or afford data bundles. This "digital poverty" silences them.

Safety Apps and SOS

"When a woman in a village faces domestic violence, a phone is her lifeline to help," explains a gender specialist. Apps like Haki Mkononi allow victims to report abuse anonymously. Without access, these women suffer in silence.

• Financial Independence: Digital inclusion also means access to mobile loans and markets. A woman who can sell her kiondos on Facebook is less dependent on an abusive partner for money.
• Cyber-Harassment: However, the internet is a double-edged sword. As more women come online, online gender-based violence (OGBV) is rising. Inclusion must be paired with digital safety training.
• Policy Push: Activists want the government to subsidize devices for women and mandate digital literacy in the Huduma Namba rollout.

Bridging the Divide

Closing the digital gap isn't just about downloading apps; it's about downloading power. Until women are equally connected, they remain only partially protected.