Raila announces Kenya Digital Token, promises crypto-friendly future
By Nancy Marende, September 18, 2025Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has announced the upcoming launch of Kenya Digital Token (KDT), a digital coin that he says will strengthen the country’s financial system, spur economic growth, and position Kenya at the forefront of the global crypto revolution.
In a video shared on social media on Thursday, September 18, 2026, Raila described the initiative as a bold step toward empowering young people by opening opportunities to learn, create, and invest in cryptocurrency.
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He stated that the project would also stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation in Kenya’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
“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,” Raila said.
Furthermore, he stated that the country is ready to lead Africa and the world in the future of finance, noting that the Kenya Token will officially be launched on the Solana blockchain.
“Kenya is stepping up to lead Africa into the crypto revolution, embracing digital finance and shaping a more crypto-friendly future,” Raila said.
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Kenya Digital Token
His announcement comes a few months after the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy (MICDE) also welcomed the Kenya Digital Token.
Speaking on July 11, 2025, MICDE Cabinet Secretary (CS) William Kabogo stated that, though independently developed by private sector innovators, the token aligns closely 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,” he stated.
While clarifying that the KDT is not a government-issued token, the Cabinet Secretary emphasised that it complements the country’s strategic digital direction.
“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 said.
The token’s use of Solana, chosen for its scalability and low transaction costs, aligns with MICDE’s IBRL (Increase Bandwidth, Reduce Latency) policy vision, aimed at ensuring every Kenyan can participate seamlessly in the global digital economy.