Why divorced women are outpacing married ones in phone ownership
The gender digital divide remains a persistent challenge in Kenya, with mobile phone ownership and internet use consistently skewed towards men.
However, a surprising trend has emerged: divorced and separated women are now outpacing their married counterparts in mobile phone ownership and usage.
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According to the Kenya Housing Survey 2023/2024, released on Monday, August 11, 2025, the national mobile phone ownership has risen from 47.3 per cent in 2019 to 53.7 per cent in 2024, and internet usage has also increased from 22.7 per cent to 35.0 per cent during the same period.
Despite this growth, the survey, conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), highlights that the gender digital divide remains wide, with men leading in both phone ownership and internet use.
“But when broken down by marital status, an intriguing pattern emerges: divorced and separated women are more likely to own and use mobile phones compared to women in monogamous or polygamous marriages,” the survey observes.
Critical personal and professional tool
The survey shows that 86.5 per cent of women in monogamous marriages own phones, while 71.1 per cent of women in polygamous marriages have access to mobile devices.
In contrast, divorced women have a phone ownership rate of 87.8 per cent, and separated women lead with 89.5 per cent. This represents a clear trend where marital separation or divorce correlates with higher mobile phone ownership among women.
According to the survey, more divorced and separated women perceive phones as critical tools for their personal and professional lives.
“There is a shift where mobile phone ownership is no longer tied to marital status in the same way it used to be. Women who are divorced or separated are more independent, and a mobile phone is often a critical tool for their personal and professional lives,” the study notes.
Pattern of usage
Interestingly, phone usage also follows a similar pattern. Divorced and separated women use their phones more frequently than their married counterparts, even outpacing women in polygamous marriages.
“This suggests that the phones are not just tools for communication, but integral to the daily lives of these women,” the survey reads.
In terms of phone sharing, it’s notable that mobile phones are more commonly shared among individuals in specific marital statuses. Those who are never married or separated report higher instances of phone sharing, 12.7 per cent and 7.2 per cent, respectively, compared to the 4 per cent seen in monogamous marriages.
“This trend underscores the relationship between marital status and digital inclusion, with never-married and separated individuals showing the greatest dependency on shared phones,” the survey noted.
The findings highlight an interesting dynamic where mobile phone access and usage appear to play a significant role in digital inclusion and empowerment for women, especially those who are no longer in a marriage.
Furthermore, the survey also reveals that children are increasingly part of this trend. 24.3 per cent of children aged 10–14 years own a phone, followed by 18.0 per cent of children aged 5–9 years. The growing presence of phones among younger age groups signals a significant shift towards early digital engagement.
As for regional trends, mobile phone usage is highest in areas like Nyandarua 86.1 per cent, Nairobi 81.3 per cent, and Taita Taveta 80.4 per cent. On the other hand, areas such as Turkana, Tana River, and Narok report the lowest usage rates, indicating a need for targeted interventions to bridge the digital divide across regions.
The survey’s results underscore the growing importance of digital access for women, particularly those who are divorced or separated.
