Kenya’s digital growth has reached a point where being online is almost second nature, but new data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveals an interesting twist: millennials are using the internet more than Gen Z.
According to the latest 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey, internet usage among Kenyans aged 25–34 years stands at 59.3%, compared to 46.6% for those aged 18-24 years. Both groups are far ahead of older generations, but the gap between them is nearly 13 percentage points.
How CA Quantifies Internet Usage
To arrive at these figures, CA draws on a mix of administrative and survey-based data, including:
- Internet Subscriptions (User Counts): CA monitors the number of active mobile data subscriptions, which, as of Q3 2024–25, stood at approximately 57.2 million, then cross-references them with demographic breakdowns to estimate usage by age group.
- Bandwidth Consumption: Network operators report total data volumes consumed (576,459 TB in Q3), along with average usage per subscription (~13 GB/month).
- Fixed Internet Subscriptions: ISP reports show broadband growth (wired and wireless), now at around 1.86 million connections.
Although the data is comprehensive, CA’s focus is more on who is connected to the internet. Missing insights include:
- Average time spent online by each age group
- Internet spending patterns across generations
The bigger story, however, is not the gap, but why millennials have managed to stay slightly ahead despite Gen Z being born in the digital era.
Why Millennials Lead: Analysts Weigh In
While the report does not provide reasons for the noticeable difference, analysts suggest several possible explanations such as:
- Financial Stability – Millennials, being in their prime earning years, may be better able to afford data bundles, high-quality smartphones, and home internet connections.
- Work-Driven Connectivity – Many in this age group use the internet for work, business, and education, making access a daily necessity.
- Digital Adaptation – Millennials experienced Kenya’s digital transformation firsthand, moving from 2G and cyber cafes to today’s high-speed mobile and fiber networks, making them adept at integrating technology into their lives.
Kenya’s Generational Gap is Closing
Although millennials currently lead, the generational gap is expected to narrow as devices become cheaper and mobile internet costs continue to drop. With more Kenyans coming online across all ages, the conversation is shifting from who’s connected to how they’re using the internet.
