Kenya became the first country in the East African region and second after South Africa in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa to launch a national broadband strategy.
Deputy President William Ruto said the realization of Vision 2030 is anchored upon maximizing the catalytic role of information and communication technology (ICT) in socio-economic development.
“In this era, information and communication technology has become a strategic resource and the foundation of most economic activity both at individual and institutional level,” he said during the launch in Nairobi.
Ruto stressed that investments in high speed internet connection will accelerate Kenya’s transformation into knowledge based economy.
“Broadband has become to the 21st century what roads, railways and electricity were in the 18th century. National economic development and prosperity in this age cannot be fully realized in the absence of a robust broadband ecosystem,” Ruto said.
The East African nation is among developing countries that have prioritized investments in information and communication technologies to spur economic growth, job creation for the youth alongside strengthening governance.
Ruto cited a World Bank report which contends that for every 10 percent increase in broadband penetration, a country’s economic growth rises by 2.5 percent.
Kenya has borrowed success stories from Malaysia and Singapore to implement a national broadband strategy and harness full potential of ICT to become a middle income nation by 2030.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and Technology Fred Matiangi said that the government will fast-track development of infrastructure, policy and legal instruments to bridge the digital gap.
“Expanding access to high speed internet connection underpins Kenya’s aspirations to be a modern knowledge based economy. It is a strategic investment that will catalyze implementation of flagship projects like Konza Techno Park, schools laptop initiative and business process outsourcing,” said Matiangi
Kenya’s national broadband strategy highlights policy, regulatory, infrastructural and funding interventions that would propel the country’s digital transition.
The Chairperson of National Steering Committee of the National Broadband Strategy Susan Wekesa told Xinhua that content development, capacity building and awareness are articulated in the master-plan.
“The strategy proposes the establishment of ICT incubation centers in all universities and the need to inculcate social media etiquette at all levels of society,” Susan said.
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Quelle/Source: Coastweek, 26.07.2013
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