The government is set to digitise at least 80 per cent of public services and make them available in a one-stop shop, the E-Citizen platform.
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, said on Monday that the government has so far digitised 17,000 services that are available on the E-Citizen platform.
The CS, who was opening the East African Communications Organisation (EACO) 29th Annual Assemblies and Extraordinary Congress in Nairobi, added that the platform has made it possible for citizens, coupled with Internet connectivity and device affordability, to seamlessly access these services wherever they are.
“The digital transformation agenda must demonstrate impact in various aspects of our economy, and we have seen the ripple effects in our judiciary, where access to justice is at the click of a button, and in our hospitals, where collaboration amongst hospitals is leading to the availability of quality healthcare, even in remote areas of the country,” Owalo said.
He explained that through the government’s Digital Transformation Agenda, the government has set sights on ensuring that citizens have access to broadband services and ICT devices and skills so that they can participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
The Kenyan government, he explained, is on course to deploy 100,000 km of fibre and establish 25,000 public WIFI hotspots and 1,450 ICT hubs across the country in the next five years.
“We see great opportunities for collaborating with the private sector in this initiative to position the country as a leader in the ICT space,” he said.
The CS added “I am proud to see over 10,000 kilometres of fibre laid so far and over 2,000 WIFI hotspots deployed, with the government now exploring cost-effective and efficient ways, including emerging technologies, to deliver last-mile connectivity across the country,” Owalo said.
The establishment of 1,450 ICT hubs and 25,000 WIFI hotspots, the CS noted, is geared towards creating digital marketplaces and boosting connectivity for traders and entrepreneurs, particularly the youth, to get gainful employment in the digital ecosystem.
“We have trained nearly 390,000 of our youths on digital skills in our ‘Jitume’ programme, and many more are earmarked going forward. Equally, we have created about 139,000 digital jobs so far,” Owalo said.
Dr. Sifundo Chief Moyo, Secretary General, Pan African Postal Union (PAPU), said the theme for the EACO Extraordinary Congress, “Promoting digital transformation in the EAC region,’’ is coming at a time when digital transformation and innovation are at the centre of all human activities across the world.
He added that operators in the fields of postal telecommunications and broadcasting need to gear themselves up to immerse themselves in the technologies and innovations that are erasing industrial boundaries and merging sectors at a rapid speed.
The activities of all key stakeholders, he noted, must, however, focus on and centre on the consumer, considering the potential excitement generated by digital services, which can quickly be eroded by unpleasant experiences for consumers caused by cybersecurity threats, violations of privacy of personal information, and the other evils that technology brings.
Dr. Moyo said that the streamlined relationship between PAPU and EACO ensures harmonious complementarity and strategic alignment between the two institutions as they pursue a digitalization and innovation agenda in the East Africa region as well as the continental stage.
He also acknowledged Kenya’s President William Ruto for ensuring that the digitalization agenda is fully supported and embedded in the national development agenda and programmes by dedicating a full ministry that deals with information, communication, and the digital economy.
John Omo, Secretary General, Africa Telecommunication Union (ATU), said it is time that the region begins to rely on comprehensive and up-to-date ICT statistics so that policies and initiatives are well-informed.
He challenged countries, saying that universal access has seen disparities in accessibility, whether rural, gender-based, or even Gen Z.
“We need to ensure that we have policies in terms of universal access that will enable those that are lagging behind, especially in rural areas. The disparities between urban and rural must be at par,” he said.
Dr. Omo gave the example of Nairobi, which has internet access of well over 70 per cent, but some villages in the country, such as Kisii or even East African average villages, have less than 10 per cent internet penetration.
African regulators and policymakers should therefore build capacity-building programmes, for example, joint training initiatives with the ITU Academy in spectrum management, which have been instrumental in promoting efficient spectrum use, the SG said.
David Mugonyi, Director General, Communication Authority of Kenya, said that through the Universal Service Fund, the organisation is supporting the deployment of ICT in unserved and underserved areas of the country, with over 750,000 people connected in the last five years.
The DG said that the deployment of 5G technology in Kenya and the region will present new opportunities for all sectors of the economy, even as the government is committed to ensuring 100 per cent subscriptions of 3G and 4G population coverage.
By Wangari Ndirangu
