October 2019 By Cheruiyot Korir
The Government will continue supporting the private investors in technology to make the ICT dream a reality in Kenya, Principal Secretary for ICT Jerome Ochieng has said.
Mr Ochieng said the government is also accelerating the efforts to sustain Kenya’s momentum in ICT advancements by building human capacity through the Presidential Digital Talent Program (PDTP) and the Digital Literacy Program (DLP) among other programs.
Speaking today at the Movenpick Hotel in Nairobi during the China-Africa Mobile Internet Economy Summit 2019, Mr Ochieng said the government, is working with the private sector to develop and expand ICT infrastructure to enhance digital inclusion.
Mr Ochieng said, the flourishing ICT sector in Kenya that has increased digital inclusion through access, adoption, and application has made Kenya first in Sub Saharan Africa with 76% in digital inclusion based on the 2017 ranking by the Brookings Financial and Digital Inclusion Project (FDIP) report.
He said the increased digital inclusion means a bigger proportion of the Kenyans is able to access services via the digital platforms as compared to other countries in this region.
The Principal Secretary said Kenya is currently one of Africa’s fastest growing ICT markets and innovation hubs because the government has made deliberate efforts to increase investments in the sector coupled with responsive policies and legislative frameworks.
“In deed, Kenya ranks favorably on the global ease of doing business index, courtesy of the enabling legal and regulatory environment that the government has created’. Said Mr Ochieng
He pledged government’s commitment to engaging stakeholders to facilitate adoption of the latest tech solutions. He said the launch of the blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Task-Force Report and The Digital Economy Blue Print for Kenya are examples of efforts aimed at expanding ICT adoption and digital inclusion.
The Principal Secretary said mobile solutions are taking over bank transactions, shopping, payment of utility bills and tax among others
He explained that the government plans to take advantage of the digital solutions cutting across all the sectors in our economy to enhance the implementation of the Big 4 Agenda pillars namely Food Security, Affordable Housing, Manufacturing, and Universal Healthcare.
The China-Africa Mobile Internet Economy Summit 2019 was organized to enable Kenya and China ICT professionals to share recent advances in innovations and applications.
Among those who attended the conference are Wu Peng, China ambassador to Kenya,
Justin B. N. Muturi, Speaker of National Assembly, Hongmei Han, Chairman, China-Africa Fund for Industrial Collaboration,Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, Chief Financial Services Officer- Safaricom Limited