By 15 September 2025, all state bodies and quasi-public sector organisations in Kazakhstan must complete their transition to the domestic messenger Aitu for official correspondence. At the same time, a large-scale project to consolidate digital resources is being implemented in the country, aimed at strengthening the nation's digital sovereignty.
The initiative to transfer government communications to a national platform was announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on 11 August 2025. The head of state instructed the government to transfer all communications involving personal data to Aitu. The implementation of this large-scale project has been assigned to the government and the Digital Headquarters, headed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
For reference: Aitu is a domestic product created by Kazakhstani IT specialists and is considered one of the significant achievements of the national digital market.
For the Armed Forces, the transition will be phased, taking into account the specifics of military communications, and will be completed by the end of 2025. Previously, the army actively used WhatsApp and Telegram, but these applications did not provide an adequate level of information security. The switch to Aitu is intended to eliminate the threats of data leaks and strengthen the digital security of military structures.
Alongside the introduction of the national messenger, a plan for consolidating the state's digital resources is being implemented. As part of the project, 224 information systems of state bodies will be merged into a single platform called Smart Data Ukimet. Data from existing systems must be uploaded by 1 September 2025, and their full integration must be completed by 1 December.
This measure is designed to eliminate duplication and improve the efficiency of the e-government system, which currently hosts more than 355 different websites and platforms. Consolidation will help optimise state spending on IT infrastructure and improve the quality of digital services for citizens.
Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev noted that the transition to Aitu is proceeding without serious problems, as many state structures have already been using this platform for a long time. According to him, the main obstacle remains the employees' habit of using WhatsApp, but getting used to the domestic messenger will not take long.
It is important to emphasise that WhatsApp, Telegram, and other foreign messengers are not banned for personal use by citizens. The restrictions apply solely to the official correspondence of civil servants involving the processing of personal data and confidential information.
An official channel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, '112 KZ', has already appeared on Aitu, through which citizens receive notifications about emergencies and other important information.
It should be noted that such national projects make a significant contribution to strengthening Kazakhstan's technological independence. They reduce dependence on foreign digital services and help form the country's own technological ecosystem. Public support for Aitu and similar initiatives is important not only for the state but also for every citizen, as it is directly linked to the security of personal data and the country's digital sovereignty.
As a reminder, at the beginning of August, during a meeting on the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the head of state also emphasised that without mastering advanced technologies, it is impossible to withstand global competition, and that AI should become a key factor in national independence and economic growth.