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In September 2023, the Kenyan government established a Special Working Group (SWG) to review the country’s ICT sector, aiming to reform policies, legislative frameworks, and operational structures that have remained largely unchanged since 1998. This marks 26 years since the last significant overhaul of Kenya’s ICT landscape.
John Tanui, Principal Secretary of the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, emphasized the timeliness of the SWG’s report, highlighting the need for reform in a rapidly evolving sector. While some amendments have been made over the years, Tanui pointed out that the dynamic nature of ICT demands more comprehensive changes to keep pace with global advancements.
To address growing sector demands, the Ministry of ICT has introduced new ICT Directorates and is in the process of establishing a Continental Centre of Excellence aimed at upskilling public service professionals in the digital economy.
Additionally, Cabinet Secretary Margaret Ndung’u recently met with a World Bank delegation, led by Lead ICT Policy Specialist Tim Kelly, for a briefing on the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Program (KDEAP). The program focuses on e-government initiatives, enhancing digital infrastructure, and developing digital skills to advance the country’s digital economy.
As part of broader legislative efforts, the proposed ICT Authority Bill 2024, if passed, will require ICT operators to obtain operational licenses, aiming to enhance the delivery of ICT services across the country.
In May 2024, Kenya’s digital connectivity and e-mobility sector received a $250 million funding boost from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The same month, Google announced a Statement of Collaboration with Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, focusing on cybersecurity, digital upskilling, and AI.
In addition, Microsoft partnered with G42 to invest in Kenya’s digital economy, committing $1 billion to the initiative’s first phase, underscoring Kenya’s growing position as a hub for digital innovation in Africa.
These efforts, combined with proposed reforms, aim to modernize Kenya’s ICT framework and enhance its role in the global digital economy.
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