Kenya’s ICT Sector Working Group (SWG) has presented an important report to the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, outlining necessary policy and legislative reforms to align the country’s ICT landscape with global trends.
Received by Cabinet Secretary Margaret Ndung’u, the report includes recommendations aimed at fostering innovation, skills development, cybersecurity, and improving digital infrastructure.
To guide the implementation of these recommendations, a Multi-Stakeholder Project Coordination and Delivery Unit, along with a high-level governance framework, will be established.
Formed in September 2023, the SWG was tasked with reviewing existing policies and systems to propose comprehensive reforms in the ICT sector. The last major reforms were made in 1998, marking a 26-year gap.
John Tanui, Principal Secretary of the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, emphasized that the SWG report comes at a crucial time for the industry, noting that while there have been some amendments since then, significant changes are overdue.
Tanui pointed out that the dynamic nature of ICT necessitates these reforms. To keep pace with advancements, the Ministry has introduced new ICT Directorates to address sector needs and is setting up a Continental Centre of Excellence to enhance skills among public service professionals.
Cabinet Secretary Ndung’u recently met with a World Bank delegation led by Tim Kelly, the World Bank Lead ICT Policy Specialist, to discuss the implementation of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Program (KDEAP). This program includes e-government initiatives, enhancements to digital infrastructure, and the development of digital skills.
Additionally, proposed legislation introduced in May would require ICT operators to obtain an operational license if the ICT Authority Bill 2024 is signed into law, aiming to improve service delivery in the sector.
In May 2024, Kenya’s digital connectivity and e-mobility sector received $250 million in funding from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Google also announced plans to collaborate with Kenya’s Ministry on cybersecurity, digital upskilling, and AI initiatives. Similarly, Microsoft committed to partnering with G42 for digital investments in Kenya, allocating $1 billion for the initial phase of this initiative.
