Pan-African digital rights organisation Paradigm Initiative has challenged the Kenyan government to unlock and fully utilize the Universal Service Fund (USF) to bridge digital connectivity gaps in the country, especially in underserved rural communities.

Speaking at the launch of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE) at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Executive Director ‘Gbenga Sesan criticized the government for allowing the USF — a fund specifically set up to support digital access in remote areas — to sit idle while the country continues to borrow for similar projects.

“It’s embarrassing that the government is taking digital loans nearly equivalent to what sits idle in the USF. Citizens, civil society, and institutions must demand transparency. If a thousand organizations filed information requests, the pressure would force accountability,” said Sesan.

The USF, administered by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), is facing a significant funding gap under its 2023–2027 strategy. The five-year plan requires KSh40.037 billion, but the CA projects it can only raise KSh28 billion — leaving a shortfall of KSh12 billion.

Traditionally funded through contributions from telecom licensees, the USF is expected to be supplemented through donor support, joint sectoral project financing, and reinvestment of licensee funds.

The funding gap currently threatens key initiatives, including the rollout of ICT infrastructure in unconnected areas and programs targeting digital inclusion for youth, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

Sesan emphasized that if the fund is properly deployed, it could significantly reduce internet costs, support local community networks, and connect rural schools to fiber internet — all while boosting local economies and improving youth access to digital jobs and knowledge. He also advocated for policy reforms, including subsidized licensing for community networks and infrastructure sharing to reduce costs for telcos operating in remote regions.

“Digital connectivity is a right, not a luxury. The government must fulfill its mandate and make the most of existing resources like the USF before turning to external loans,” Sesan said.

The Nairobi event marked the final stop in Paradigm Initiative’s three-country campus tour to launch DRIBLE — a gamified learning experience that teaches digital rights and inclusion through a custom-designed board game.

Supported by the Open Society Foundations (OSF), the tool simplifies complex digital rights concepts, focusing on online safety, responsible citizenship, and digital inclusion.

Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, Paradigm Initiative’s Chief Operating Officer, said the DRIBLE experience is instrumental in equipping youth to champion digital rights in their communities.

“We’re not just raising awareness; we’re building capacity,” she said.

Cheryl Akinyi, Program Manager for Democratic Futures in Africa at OSF, challenged students to build home-grown tech solutions shaped by African realities.

“We must decolonize and democratize the tech space,” she said. “Africa has the talent — now it must shape the narrative.”

Founded in 2007 in a small cybercafé in Ajegunle, Lagos, Paradigm Initiative now operates in six African countries — Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe — and has impacted over 150,000 youth. Its flagship tools include Ripoti for reporting digital rights violations, Ayeta for digital security training, and the short film Whispers in the Wires, which raises awareness about digital exclusion.

With the launch of DRIBLE, Paradigm Initiative continues its goal of reaching 20 million youth across the Global South by 2028 — with Kenya now firmly on that journey.