Mombasa—In a move aimed at streamlining public services and leveraging technology, the Ministry of Information, Communications, and The Digital Economy has outlined extensive plans to digitize various facets of government operations in Kenya.
According to a new release by Kenya News Agency, Communications and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo, the government is committed to providing physical technological infrastructure and enhancing connectivity. Owalo made the announcement during the 14th Annual ICT Management and Leadership Conference of the Computer Society of Kenya.
The ministry is collaborating with technology companies and the private sector to produce local smart-enabled telephones, expected to cost around Sh6,000 per unit. The phones are part of the Konza Techno policy, which aims for local manufacturing of ICT equipment.
Furthermore, the ministry is in the process of laying out 100,000 kilometres of fibre-optic backbone infrastructure targeted at health facilities, schools, and the judiciary, among other public institutions. Concurrently, the government is establishing 25,000 public WiFi hotspots in markets, bus parks, and other public areas.
An additional focus is the creation of 1450 village digital hubs aimed at boosting e-commerce, creativity, and the digital economy. Owalo said the ministry is also training youth in digital technology and securing them digitally-enabled jobs globally.
The broader objective behind these initiatives is to transition the government to a paperless, climate-friendly system that streamlines public access to services. Owalo mentioned that people should be able to access as many government services as they want from the comfort of their homes or workplaces.
Owalo also pointed out the role of emerging technologies like big data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and blockchain in efficient decision-making and monitoring. These technologies are instrumental in optimizing resource use, enhancing disaster preparedness, and tracking progress toward the UN’s global Sustainable Development Goals.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that the ICT landscape in Kenya is rapidly evolving and highlighted the critical role technology plays in various sectors including banking, education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance.
By the end of the year, all government services are expected to be available on the e-citizen platform, with authentication mechanisms in place to facilitate easy access to services from home.