Evaluating the Effectiveness of Consumer Protection Frameworks in Rwanda's E-commerce Sector: A Comparative Analysis with African Countries' Best Practices (Kenya)

Rwanda's digital economy has seen significant expansion in the last ten years, with e-commerce becoming an essential factor in economic change. The nation's digital marketplace has grown considerably, driven by a rise in internet users, which increased by 110 thousand (+2.3% )between January 2023 and January 2024. The rapid expansion of digital payment solutions and mobile money services has significantly reshaped the retail landscape. In Rwanda, the mobile money growth rate reached a significant penetration of 60% in 2020, highlighting its rising adoption among the population. As digital transactions become common, the need for robust consumer protection mechanisms has become increasingly apparent.