How do they use their phones?
Women use their phones to stay connected, manage financial transactions, consume entertainment, express themselves, and access information for everyday needs. Patterns of use are shaped by relevance, familiarity, and the constraints of their social and material contexts.
Mobile Ownership (DHS-8 2022)
30%Smartphone Ownership
0%Uses Mobile for Financial Transactions
57%
Reach and Connection
Uses regular calls for business and personal needs, sometimes on borrowed phones. Messaging and social media use is very limited or non-existent.
Entertainment and Stress Relief
Relies primarily on radio for entertainment, religious sermons, and health-related information. May consume offline media when it is made available.
Learning and Growth
Learning opportunities through digital platforms are limited. Use is not oriented toward intentional information-seeking.
Transactions and Financial Security
Primarily receives money via M-Pesa and may rely on others for assistance with transactions. M-Pesa may also be used via putting SIMs in others’ phones.
Self Promotion and Expression
Use does not extend to self-promotion or personal expression.
Tracking
Does not typically engage in financial or health tracking on digital devices.
How do they get access to their phones?
Access to phones is often mediated through family and social networks, with devices acquired, shared, or supported through these relationships. Patterns of ownership, control, and continuity vary across geographies and reflect broader gendered and economic conditions.
Is in the Top 40% by Household Wealth Nationally
37%Partner Works in a Professional or Managerial Role
8%Has Year Long Employment or Livelihood Activity
22%
Access to Device and Consumables
Likely had very limited exposure to phones early in life, with little or no access during childhood.
At times hand-me-down phones may be given to them from people in their networks. If phones are essential for work then a second hand basic phone may be bought. However, access likely remains disrupted with long periods without devices. During this time they may rely on borrowing devices and inserting their SIMs into it, especially for M-Pesa use.
How do they learn how to use their phones?
Women build digital capability over time through a combination of early exposure, literacy, and support from others. Facilitators, such as family members, peers, or intermediaries often play a role in shaping how skills are developed and how confidence is built.
Can Read Full Sentences
64%Cannot Read at All
27%Has Secondary and Above Education
13%
Base Capabilities
Very limited to no exposure to digital as children combined with relatively lower educational levels means that learning anything beyond the basics can be a struggle.
Learning Style
Learns through repeated demonstration and observation in adulthood. Often requires ongoing and patient facilitation. Learning may rely on recognising symbols, prompts, and memorised patterns.
Learning Needs
Requires support for basic phone functions such as calling and using M-Pesa.
Facilitators
May struggle due to inconsistent facilitation. Likely to depend on M-Pesa agents, neighbours, or friends for assistance with transactions.
What are the challenges they navigate?
Women navigate interruptions in access, limitations in resources, and a range of digital risks. Their use of phones is shaped by social expectations and relationship dynamics, which influence when, how, and how freely they are able to stay connected.
Has Internalised Domestic Violence
48%Participates in Household Decision Making
62%Household has Electricity
48%
Disruptions caused by Financial Shocks, Damage, Degradation and Loss
Disruption is likely the norm, with access often being dependent on inserting her SIM in borrowed phones.
Managing Recurring Costs (data, airtime etc.)
Usage is likely entirely dataless and therefore airtime is more important than data and managing it represents a real cost. Even when they don’t own personal devices, using borrowed devices requires them to insert their SIMs and spend their airtime.
Charging Cycles
Charging may be less disruptive as use is limited, though dependence on shared infrastructure can still create gaps in access.
Perception of Risk
Primarily concerned with financial fraud; other digital risks may be less salient.
Response to Digital Risk
May experience financial fraud most directly but lack clear tools or strategies to respond. Digital use remains necessary, particularly for M-Pesa, even where confidence is limited.