- Kenya’s ICT Sector Working Group (SWG) has presented a key report to the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, on policy and legislative reforms to align Kenya’s ICT environment with global trends.
- The report, received by Cabinet Secretary Margaret Ndung’u, includes recommendations across various major areas and is expected to drive innovation, skills development, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.
- Additionally, a Multi-Stakeholder Project Coordination and Delivery Unit, along with a high-level project governance framework, will be adopted to guide the implementation of the recommendations made by the ICT SWG.
The SWG was established in September 2023 to review existing policy, legislative, institutional, administrative, and operational structures, systems, and strategies, and to recommend comprehensive reforms in the ICT sector.
With the last major reforms taking place in 1998, 26 years ago, John Tanui, Principal Secretary of the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy noted that the SWG report comes at a critical time for the industry.
Tanui mentioned that while there have been a number of amendments since the last reform, major changes have not yet occurred. He added that given the dynamic and evolving nature of ICT, it is clear that reform is needed.
Also, he highlighted that to keep pace with advancements, the Ministry has introduced new ICT Directorates to address sector demands and is establishing a Continental Centre of Excellence to upskill public service professionals.
Cabinet Secretary Margaret Ndung’u has also met with a World Bank delegation led by World Bank Lead ICT Policy Specialist, Tim Kelly, for a comprehensive briefing on the implementation of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Program (KDEAP), which covers e-government initiatives, the enhancement of digital infrastructure, and the development of digital skills.
Also, proposed legislation in May would require ICT operators to obtain an operational licence if the proposed ICT Authority Bill 2024 is signed into law which aims to improve the delivery of ICT services.
In May 2024, Kenya’s digital connectivity and e-mobility sector received new $250 million in funding from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Google also said it would sign a Statement of Collaboration with Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy to collaborate on areas such as cybersecurity, digital upskilling, and AI.
At the time, Microsoft also made commitments, and partnered with G42 for digital investments in Kenya, allocating $1 billion for the initiative’s initial phase.
