A new report shows that young people in Kenya face challenges when trying to access health services and information online. These include high costs of smartphones and data bundles, poor internet coverage in rural areas, low digital literacy, fear of stigma, and exposure to online abuse.
The report, released by Digital Health and Rights Project (DHRP), involved interviews with 343 people in Kenya, Ghana, Colombia, and Vietnam. Kenya had the largest number of participants, with 109 young adults aged 18 to 30. These included people living with HIV, sex workers, gay men, transgender individuals, and young women from both urban and rural areas.
Additional interviews were conducted with health officials, civil society groups, and digital rights advocates.
High cost was the most reported barrier among participants in Kenya. Respondents said that the price of data bundles and smartphones made it difficult to go online. In Nairobi, one participant explained that earning KES 500 per day was not enough to cover rent, food, and internet costs.
In Mombasa, a woman living with HIV said that many young people in low-income areas like Kisauni often spend their limited money on food instead of data bundles. She added that proper nutrition is important for people taking HIV medication, so internet access becomes a lower priority.
To stay online, some relied on microloans from telecom providers. Others bought phones through instalment plans, where missed payments led to locked devices. This made it harder for sex workers and peer educators to contact clients or share health information.
One woman in Nairobi said that after taking a credit offer from a mobile provider, she found herself unable to repay it. Her phone became unusable, cutting her off from vital support networks.
These financial struggles were more common among women. In rural and peri-urban areas like Migori and Kitui, many young women said they depended on male partners to buy airtime. If the partner did not provide money for data, they remained offline.
Out of Kenya’s participants, 28 came from Migori and 27 from Kitui. These areas were classified as peri-urban and rural. Respondents said that internet signal was unreliable. In some cases, they had to move to specific spots to get a connection. Others said entire areas had no coverage at all.
Peer educators in Kitui said they could not reach some of their clients because both sides lacked data bundles. Some said they could not even send text messages. These communication gaps made it hard to maintain HIV support networks.
While some young people owned smartphones, many lacked the digital skills to use them for health services. In Kitui and Migori, participants reported that they did not know how to search for reliable health information. Others said they had access to information but could not tell which sources were trustworthy.
A few used social media, but said they avoided posting or sharing health-related content due to fear of judgment or misunderstanding. Some said they had received conflicting advice online and did not know who to trust.
Across all locations in Kenya, young men discussed the need for digital health literacy. They said that without guidance, online information could cause more harm than good.
Fear of Stigma Blocks Health Searches
Stigma was one of the most common reasons for avoiding online searches about health. In Mombasa, a group of women living with HIV said they did not ask for help online or search for HIV-related apps. They feared that people around them would suspect their health status if they asked such questions.
In Nairobi, a young woman said she was forced to leave home after a family member saw a health-related text message from a clinic on her phone. Shared phones increased this risk. Many said they had no private devices and had to use phones belonging to siblings, partners, or friends.
In such cases, even typing a health-related word into a browser was risky. Participants said that anyone who checked the phone history could guess what they were going through.
About three-quarters of Kenyan participants said they had faced online abuse. This included threats, name-calling, blackmail, and exposure of private information. Some said people shared their photos without consent. Others were targeted for their sexual orientation, profession, or HIV status.
Sex workers and gay men reported the highest levels of abuse. A few said the abuse led to physical threats or violence. Most said they had no success when they tried to report these incidents to platforms or police. Some did not know if the abuse was even considered a crime.
Others said they feared reporting abuse because they might face arrest themselves, especially if they were engaged in sex work or same-sex relationships. In these cases, the law did not protect them. Instead, it increased their risk of further harm.
Kenyan participants said that online platforms rarely responded to complaints. They said that community-based groups were more helpful. These groups offered support and advice, and helped victims manage the impact of abuse.
Women in Nairobi and Kitui said that not having a phone could cost lives. Some gave examples of women giving birth at home and being unable to call for help. Others said sex workers could not alert friends when they felt unsafe with a client.
One participant explained that if she had data, she could text a friend before entering a room with a stranger. Without that, no one would know her location or be able to help.
Despite all the challenges, participants in Kenya expressed interest in learning more about digital tools. Many asked for training on digital rights, how to identify false information, and how to stay safe online.
They said that such training should be done both in person and online, and should be designed to fit the needs of specific groups like young women, peer educators, or sex workers.
The report calls on the Kenyan government to improve internet infrastructure in rural areas, offer affordable data and devices, and include digital access in health programs. It also recommends stronger data protection laws and survivor-friendly systems for reporting online harm.
Telecom companies are urged to review credit schemes that push low-income users into debt. Social media platforms are asked to improve their complaint systems and act on reports of abuse.
Donors and civil society are encouraged to invest in digital literacy programs and support networks for young people who face online and offline risks.
The report warns against relying only on digital platforms to deliver health services. It says such systems must include offline options to avoid excluding those who cannot afford to connect.
The experiences of young Kenyans in this study reflect a wider pattern of exclusion across low- and middle-income countries. The researchers stress that future health programs must be inclusive, community-led, and guided by those who are most affected by digital gaps.
