Nairobi: Estonia has extended an invitation to Kenya’s public and private sector players to delve into the benefits of e-government by accessing the Estonia Briefing Centre portal. This portal is designed to promote Estonia’s innovations and foster international business connections for local ICT companies. Estonia’s initiative is part of a global campaign to celebrate its achievement of 100 percent digitization of government services.
According to Kenya News Agency, Joel Karubiu, Estonia’s Export Advisor in Kenya and Eastern Africa, highlighted Kenya’s progress in digital citizen services. He explained that Estonia’s journey began with the issuance of digital identity cards (e-IDs) for all its nationals two decades ago, which has been the foundation of the country’s e-state activities. The e-ID and its ecosystem facilitate daily transactions for citizens, including paying bills, voting online, signing contracts, and accessing health information. Estonia also offers unique online services such as E-marriage,
allowing people to submit marriage applications online via the e-population register.
The launch of Estonia’s global campaign aims to celebrate the country’s achievement of fully digital government services and invites Kenya’s public and private sectors to explore business partnerships with Estonian counterparts. Karubiu noted Kenya’s significant strides in ensuring digital access to many citizen services.
As of December 2024, every service in Estonia, from filing for divorce to more routine tasks, is completed online, marking a new era in citizen-centric governance. This accomplishment establishes Estonia as a global leader in digital governance and sets a benchmark for nations worldwide. Former President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, emphasized the seamlessness of Estonia’s digital services, sharing personal experiences of accessing state services from various parts of the world. She asserted Estonia’s commitment to reducing bureaucratic hurdles and leading the way towards a more seamless digital future.
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aljulaid also pointed out that among the 5,000 government services available online via Kenya’s e-citizen portal are registration of birth, searching for company records, processing passports, visa applications, and making government service payments. The success of these services is attributed to the interoperability of various systems, including cashless payments for services rendered.
Karubiu emphasized that the state-issued digital identity for all nationals has been crucial to Estonia’s e-state journey. The e-ID system, in place for over 20 years, remains a cornerstone of the country’s digital infrastructure.