Regulatory and Policy Frameworks Supporting Digital-Era Foreign Policy in Kenya, 2020–2025

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Kenya's regulatory and policy frameworks in supporting digital-era foreign policy adaptation between 2020 and 2025. It examines the degree to which Kenya's digital governance legislation, ICT policies, and cybersecurity strategies are aligned with foreign policy objectives, adequately address digital risks in diplomatic operations, and are supported by functioning inter-agency coordination mechanisms. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was adopted, combining structured questionnaires administered to 181 respondents from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, selected diplomatic missions, the ICT Authority of Kenya, and the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, with 12 Key Informant Interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Qualitative data were subjected to systematic thematic analysis. Findings reveal persistent regulatory inadequacy. A combined 43.6 percent rated existing digital policies as providing low or no support to foreign policy functions. All three Likert-scale regulatory framework indicators yielded means below the neutral midpoint (range: 2.12–2.21), with inter-agency coordination recording the highest combined disagreement rate across all nine study items at 83.9 percent. Correlation analysis established a positive and significant association between regulatory frameworks and foreign policy performance (r = .641, p = 0.000). Multiple regression identified regulatory frameworks as the second strongest predictor (B = 0.240, p = 0.000). This study provides empirical evidence that Kenya's digital governance legislation, while relatively well-developed, was designed for domestic governance rather than foreign policy integration, creating a systemic disconnect between regulatory design and diplomatic operational needs. It links regulatory fragmentation and absent inter-agency coordination mechanisms directly to reduced foreign policy performance. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs should develop a dedicated Digital Foreign Policy Framework providing explicit operational guidelines for diplomatic practice and formalize mandatory inter-agency coordination protocols through a Joint Digital Foreign Policy Committee with clear mandate, reporting structures, and accountability mechanisms.