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The ICT Authority of Kenya has outlined an ambitious three-year plan to tackle digital inequality, enhance business processes, and promote digital culture across the country. The 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, unveiled on Friday, aims to transform Kenya’s digital landscape by making technology more accessible and fostering a robust digital environment.

The strategy is focused on breaking down barriers to access by reducing costs, increasing ease of use, and addressing challenges related to data availability. It also aims to improve access to information, promote digital literacy, and invest in lifelong learning, including upskilling and reskilling the workforce.

The plan seeks to expand access to digital products and services, particularly for businesses, while addressing gaps in the digital framework, such as cybersecurity and the adoption of new technologies. The ICT Authority also aims to increase stakeholder awareness of ICT mandates and investments.

To implement the plan, the ICT Authority estimates that Sh 304.37 billion will be required over the next three years. The Authority is currently raising Sh 800 million from the sector and projects an annual increase of Sh 1.5 billion to Sh 2 billion.

ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Margaret Ndung’u highlighted the strategic plan’s role in guiding Kenya Kwanza’s projects under the National Digital Masterplan 2022-2032. She pointed to the progress the government has made toward digitizing the country, emphasizing the expansion of Kenya’s digital infrastructure.

“We are progressing to expanding Kenya’s fibre network coverage countrywide, which entails laying of 100,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable,” said Ndung’u. She added that the government is on track to set up 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots and 1,450 Digital Village Smart Hubs across the nation.

Ndung’u also noted that the government is increasing the availability of e-government services through the automation of processes and the digitization of records. This includes improving data sharing across agencies and using a unique identifier to streamline access to digital services.

“With this strategic plan we are building digital bridges that span the width of our great nation, ensuring that no community, no person is left behind in our digital evolution,” she said. The plan, she added, focuses on empowering women, particularly in rural areas, through digital technologies, as they play a key role in shaping future generations.

Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of the ICT Authority, remarked that Kenya is at a crucial juncture, where traditional economic growth strategies are reaching their limits. He noted that closing the digital divide provides an opportunity to drive innovation and efficiency across industries.

“We plan to also look at how we can elevate and also help innovators to scale to commercial levels but also, at how we can leverage these innovations to address our socio-economic challenges,” Kamanguya said.

He also outlined revenue-raising measures the Authority plans to implement to support its initiatives. While the government’s goals under the National Digital Masterplan are ambitious, Kamanguya emphasized that partnerships and collaborations would be key to achieving them.

“As a country we are at a critical stage where the issues of fiscal consolidation continue to persist. One of the issues we are facing is to try as much as possible to reduce expenditure but also to maximise on the assets and investments that have already been done by the government,” Kamanguya added.

In addition to the strategic plan, the ICT Authority announced preparations for the 2025 Connected Africa Summit. The event will build on the success of this year’s summit, where the Nairobi Declaration was unveiled by African ICT ministers. The declaration emphasizes collaboration to improve internet connectivity, data sharing, and youth digital job skills.

CS Ndung’u reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to harnessing digital technologies for inclusive growth, pledging to boost the continent’s annual economic growth by at least 5% over the next decade. The Nairobi Declaration also proposed the creation of the Africa Cybersecurity and AI Council, which will advise on policies to address emerging digital risks.

“This council will serve as an advisory entity, driving policies that align with our shared values and developmental goals. It will be great to link this with the African Union Cybersecurity Expert Group (AUCSEG) which was established in 2019,” Ndung’u said.

“We reaffirm our dedication, as outlined in our meetings, to propel Africa into a digital future marked by equality, inclusion, sustainability, transparency, accountability, diversity, and respect for human rights, including privacy,” she added.The 2025 summit aims to continue driving Africa’s digital transformation, positioning the continent as a leader in the global digital economy.