Nairobi, Aug. 13 -- Kenya's next digital growth story will be determined as much by policy as it is by technology. Kenya has built one of Africa's strongest digital foundations, with a population of 57 million, internet penetration of 48 percent, more than 42 million smartphones in use, and 45 million mobile money subscriptions.

E-commerce is growing at an estimated 16-18 percent annually, supported by a young, connected and increasingly digital population.

Yet despite these advantages, e-commerce still accounts for only 2-5 percent of retail sales, far below mature markets such as China and the United States.

The opportunity ahead is immense, but only if policy enables growth rather than unintentionally constraining it. Digital commer...