Kenya to launch national digital token to boost crypto economy
The token will run on the Solana blockchain and is expected to strengthen the country’s financial system, spur economic growth and position Kenya as a leader in Africa’s digital economy.
Kenya has announced the introduction of a national digital token aimed at empowering young people with new opportunities to learn, trade, and invest in cryptocurrency.
The token, dubbed the Kenya Digital Token (KDT), will run on the Solana blockchain and is expected to strengthen the country’s financial system, spur economic growth and position Kenya as a leader in Africa’s digital economy.
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Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga unveiled the initiative in a video shared on social media on Thursday, describing it as a transformative step to expand Kenya’s role in the global crypto revolution.
“As the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, I am proud to announce that we will soon launch a digital coin, an ambitious step towards strengthening our financial system and supporting economic growth across Kenya, Africa and the rest of the world,” Odinga said.
He explained that the Kenya Digital Token will open opportunities for the youth to participate in the digital economy.
“This initiative will empower young people who are creating opportunities to learn, trade or invest in cryptocurrency. It would also boost innovation, entrepreneurship and wealth creation with a growing digital economy,” he added.
Raila emphasised that the country is ready to lead Africa in embracing digital finance.
“Kenya is stepping up to lead Africa into the crypto revolution, embracing digital finance and shaping a more crypto-friendly future,” he said.
The announcement comes just months after the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy (MICDE) also welcomed the Kenya Digital Token.
On July 11, 2025, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said the project, though developed independently by private-sector innovators, aligns with national goals of fostering identity, technological empowerment and inclusive participation.
“I welcome the launch of the Kenya Digital Token as a bold step by the private sector to expand the digital economy. It reflects the growing confidence in tokenisation as a tool for value exchange, inclusion, and innovation,” Kabogo said.
He clarified that the KDT is not a government-issued token but complements Kenya’s broader digital vision.
“It speaks directly to the heart of the Kenyan bottom-up economic transformation agenda, which empowers youth, drives economic dignity, and embraces technology to unlock opportunity,” he stated.
According to Kabogo, the use of Solana, chosen for its scalability and low transaction costs, fits with MICDE’s Increase Bandwidth, Reduce Latency (IBRL) policy aimed at ensuring all Kenyans can participate seamlessly in the global digital economy.
Although details such as the coin’s official launch date and specific use cases have not yet been disclosed, its rollout is seen as a continuation of Kenya’s legacy as a digital finance pioneer, following the success of platforms like M-Pesa.
Digital coins exist purely in electronic form and can function as a medium of exchange, store of value or unit of account. They rely on blockchain technology, which records transactions securely and transparently, reducing the need for traditional intermediaries such as banks.
By introducing the Kenya Digital Token, the country seeks to deepen its digital ecosystem while connecting more citizens to global markets and decentralised finance tools.
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