National Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Policy - Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology, Kenya
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National Information, Communications
and
Technology (ICT) Policy
Ministry of Information, Communications and
Technology, Kenya
November-2019Abstract This National ICT policy has been formulated after broad-based public consultations in a number of iterations. It captures the ICT ambitions of our citizens and corporations and creates a framework for their timely realisation. The policy takes close cognisance of our history, social, economic and operational environment, legal and regulatory framework, current capacities and capabilities and existing policies from other arms of government; and develops a carefully thought- through achievable way forward for our country; This policy document is backed by detailed strategic thinking and planning. As this policy is progressively implemented and supported by all arms of government, ICTs in tandem with other government initiatives will create the prosperous, stable, globally competitive environment that is our joint national aspiration. Ministry of ICT, Kenya 2/37 November-2019
Contents
1 Foreword...................................................................................................... 4
2 Preamble ...................................................................................................... 5
3 Vision and Mission........................................................................................ 6
3.1 Vision ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
3.2 Mission ................................................................................................................................................... 6
4 Overview of the Policy .................................................................................. 6
4.1 Mobile First ......................................................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Market ................................................................................................................................................... 7
4.3 Skills and Innovation ...................................................................................................................... 8
4.4 Public Service Delivery .................................................................................................................. 8
5 Background .................................................................................................. 9
5.1 ICT and Vision 2030 ........................................................................................................................ 9
5.2 Rationale for Policy Review ......................................................................................................... 9
5.3 Guiding Principles of the ICT Policy ..................................................................................... 9
5.4 Situational Analysis and Highlights ................................................................................... 10
5.4.1 Regulatory Background ...............................................................................................................10
5.4.2 Operational Environment............................................................................................................10
5.4.3 Technology Trends..........................................................................................................................11
5.5 Challenges ........................................................................................................................................ 12
6 Policy Focus Areas ...................................................................................... 12
6.1 Mobile First ...................................................................................................................................... 12
6.1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................12
6.1.2 ICT Infrastructure and Access ...................................................................................................13
6.1.3 Universal Access ...............................................................................................................................15
6.1.4 Accessibility ........................................................................................................................................17
6.2 The Market ....................................................................................................................................... 17
6.2.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................17
6.2.2 Money....................................................................................................................................................18
6.2.3 Things ...................................................................................................................................................21
6.2.4 Rules ......................................................................................................................................................25
6.3 Skills and Innovation ................................................................................................................... 30
6.3.1 Science Technology and Innovation .......................................................................................31
6.3.2 The Council for the Future ..........................................................................................................31
6.3.3 Emerging Technologies ................................................................................................................31
6.3.4 Human Resource Development .................................................................................................33
6.4 Public Service Delivery ................................................................................................................ 33
6.4.1 E-Services/Government ................................................................................................................33
6.4.2 Postal and Courier Services ........................................................................................................34
6.4.3 Child Online Protection .................................................................................................................35
6.5 Security .............................................................................................................................................. 35
7 Monitoring and Evaluation ......................................................................... 37
List of Acronyms ............................................................................................ 37
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 3/37 November-20191 Foreword In reviewing this policy, the Government
has taken into account the tremendous impact
One of the main priorities of the
of globalisation and the rapid changes in
Government towards the attainment of Kenya
technology. These changes have invariably
Vision 2030 development goals and objectives
affected the traditional approach to the
for wealth and job creation is the achievement
management of public affairs and service
of an industrialised information society and
delivery, and increasingly inform the need for
knowledge economy. The objective is to
an adaptive policy and regulatory response.
facilitate the creation of dignified jobs that
This revised Policy provides a clear and
provide financial security and independence to
compelling vision to drive social, economic,
allow greater innovation and future thinking.
cultural and political transformation through
By providing local and international
the effective use of Information and
connectivity across the country and region, and
Communications Technology (ICT) in the years
developing in-country solutions, the
ahead. The Policy provides many of the key
Government will enable creation of online and
strategies essential for achieving Kenya’s
digital jobs, markets, and quality skills allowing
national development targets. Going forward,
Kenyans to embrace the shared economy. In
the Government will concentrate on speeding
this way, citizens will transition from
up the development of new generation mobile,
traditional ways of working to innovative,
high-speed, secure and ubiquitous ICT
digitally enabled forms of work.
infrastructure, developing a modern
This review of the Information and
technology-enabled industrial system,
Communications Technology (ICT) Policy of
implementing the national big data strategy
March 2006 is inspired by, first, the need to
and enhancing national cyber-security.
align the Policy with the new constitutional
By harnessing the power of ICTs, private
dispensation in Kenya, and Vision 2030. This
and state-owned enterprises are expected to
review specifically aims to incorporate the
improve their sourcing, sales and logistics
lessons learned from the Vision 2030
systems; streamline operations, track market
Medium Term Frameworks and takes into
trends and boost their marketing, research and
account the three underlying pillars of Vision
innovation capabilities. Enterprise operations
2030, (Economic, Social and Political) and the
will become more efficient, translating into
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
productivity gains and the creation of new
(UN SDGs). The overarching focus will be to
markets for innovative products and services.
provide access to ICTs, especially broadband, to
The strategies and action plans developed as a
all Kenyans and seamless connectivity to the
result of this policy will continue to bring about
East African Community member states with
the rapid transformation of Kenya.
proactive collaboration at regional and
In conclusion, it is my conviction that this
international levels, leveraging our leading
Policy will continue to set the pace and give the
position in Fintech and our capital markets.
right direction to further the development of
Secondly, the review is meant to provide a
our economy in general and the ICT sector in
proactive framework that is in tandem with
particular for the benefit of all stakeholders.
current technological realities and dynamics,
and one that will guide the orderly
Joe Mucheru, EGH
development of the ICT sector so as to ensure
Cabinet Secretary for Information,
maximum developmental impact for the benefit
Communications & Technology
of all Kenyans.
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 4/37 November-20192 Preamble Market; designed to increase the overall
size of the digital and traditional economy to
The National ICT policy was last reviewed
10% of GDP by 2030; Skills and Innovation;
in 2006. Since then, the sector has experienced
which outlines a careful plan designed to jump-
rapid technological advancement, changes to
start a self supporting ecosystem that will
the legal and administrative framework and
produce world-class research, technology
many emerging issues. The latter include
products and industries; Public Service
increased IT enabled services, increased
Delivery; requires that all government services
demand on bandwidth and for Quality of
are available online, that every Kenyan has
Service (QoS), challenges of cyber-security,
online access and that government services are
integration projects and harmonization of ICT
delivered quickly and fully at the time and place
policies regionally and internationally.
that they are needed.
This policy is a product of an all-inclusive,
The government will also continue to play
participatory and consultative process. It is
its role in promoting broadcasting and
guided by the following principles; Putting ICT
telecommunication services through: provision
at the centre of the national economic agenda,
of infrastructure to enable expansion of digital
Improving access to ICT especially broadband,
TV coverage in unserved and underserved
efficient public service delivery and
areas; encouraging development of high
maintaining an open government, Putting the
quality, easily accessible, relevant local content;
private sector first and Leveraging on ICT to
development of a National Language Policy to
promote Sustainable Development Goals.
encourage use of local languages in developing
The main policy objectives are to (1) Create
content; ensuring that the radio frequency
the infrastructure conditions for use of always-
spectrum is managed in equitable and
on, high speed, wireless, internet across the
transparent manner with specific and clear
country. Provide enabling infrastructure and
conditions; encouraging sharing of
frameworks that support the growth of data
infrastructure and enforcement of quality of
centres, pervasive instrumentation (Internet of
services regulations to ensure availability of
Things), machine learning and local
reliable services by service providers and
manufacturing whilst fostering a secure,
realization of an effective postal and courier
innovation ecosystem; (2) Grow the
ecosystem to drive the development of e-
contribution of ICT to the economy to 10% by
commerce and the digital economy.
2030, by using ICT as a foundation to the
The implementation of the policy will
creation of a more robust economy, providing
necessitate institutional reforms in some Semi-
secure income and livelihoods to the citizenry;
Autonomous Government Agencies that will
(3) Leverage regional and international
result in a more vibrant sector
cooperation and engagements to ensure that
Finally, to implement this policy
Kenya is able to harness global opportunities;
effectively, the current legal, institutional and
(4) Position the country to take advantage of
regulatory framework will be reviewed and
emerging trends such as the shared and gig
aligned to the strategic policy focus. A robust
economy by enhancing our education
monitoring and evaluation system will be put in
institutions and the skills of our people, and
place to track its implementation and the
fostering an innovation and start-up ecosystem
reviews will be shared annually.
that is able to lead on a global scale; and (5)
Gain global recognition for innovation,
Jerome Ochieng
efficiency and quality in public service delivery.
Principal Secretary for ICT and Innovation and
Services will be delivered in a manner that
for Broadcasting and Telecommunications
ensures we have a prosperous, free, open and
stable society.
These objectives will be actualised
through four thematic focus areas: Mobile
first; which will ensure that every Kenyan can
access inexpensive Internet and reasonable
access to locally produced devices;
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 5/37 November-20193 Vision and Mission 4. Position the country to take advantage of
emerging trends such as the shared and gig
economy, by enhancing our education
3.1 Vision institutions and the skills of our people and
by fostering an innovation and start-up
Kenya as a globally competitive knowledge ecosystem that is able lead in the adoption
based economy of emerging trends on a global scale.
3.2 Mission 5. Gain global recognition for innovation,
efficiency and quality in public service
To facilitate universal access to ICT delivery. Government services will be
infrastructure and services all over the country delivered in a manner that ensures we have
a prosperous, free, open and stable society.
In light of the policy objectives outlined,
4 Overview of the Policy
this policy will focus on 4 key areas:
This policy is designed to realise the 1. Mobile First
potential of the digital economy by creating an 2. Market
enabling environment for all citizens and 3. Skills and Innovation
stakeholders. A review of the 2006 policy was 4. Public Service Delivery
necessitated by the rapid changes and
developments in the ICT sector, evolving global 4.1 Mobile First
trends and the fast-changing public needs. The
Fourth Industrial Revolution is driving
automation and massive data exchange, The heavy investment by Government in
impacting our macro and microenvironments internet connectivity infrastructure has
and increasing the level of ICT consumption enabled access by 99.9% of our citizenry,
worldwide. It is for this reason that we are mostly via mobile phones. Internet access
setting up a policy designed to take advantage anywhere and at any time is pivotal to the
of these changes and trends that will enable successful growth of a knowledge economy.
Kenya to become a more prosperous The Government will continue to invest in
participant in the global economy. The ICT infrastructure for universal, always-on, high
Policy defines the forward-looking position of speed, wireless data connectivity for every
the Government on various areas of the citizen.
evolving ICT sector landscape in Kenya. The government takes cognisance of the
The policy objectives: global trend of ubiquitous computing which
shows that the world is going mobile people
1. Create the infrastructure conditions that want to access the internet anywhere and at
enable the use of always-on, high speed, any time. In recognition of this trend, this policy
wireless, internet across the country. will drive a mobile first approach, ensuring that
2. Facilitate the creation of infrastructure and every Kenyan has reasonable access by
frameworks that support the growth of data focusing on mobile and wireless infrastructure.
centres, pervasive instrumentation The government will provide the network;
(Internet of Things), machine learning and storage and processing infrastructure
local manufacturing while fostering a frameworks and guidelines that will see Kenya
secure, innovation ecosystem. successfully compete on a global scale. This will
include:
3. Grow the contribution of ICT to increase the
overall size of the digital and traditional 1. Investments in the infrastructure needed
economy to 10% of GDP by 2030, by using for work such as data centres, hardware,
ICT as a foundation for the creation of a software, telecommunications, networks
more robust economy, providing secure and broadcasting
income and livelihoods to the citizenry.
Leverage regional and international 2. Creating an enabling environment for the
cooperation and engagements to ensure local assembly and manufacturing of
that Kenya is able to harness global devices
opportunities.
3. Strengthening of our payments and logistics
infrastructure
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 6/37 November-2019Government will encourage the use of our
4. Growth and adoption of local e-commerce unique culture and languages to grow our
platforms with global reach technology ecosystem and elevate our
businesses to compete at a global level. It will
5. Provision of trusted security and promote the adoption and use of the dot KE
certification infrastructure for all electronic country level domain name and set up the
communication and transactions frameworks needed to ensure that Kenyan
goods and services are of quality and in high
6. Accessible news and media platforms both demand globally in order to attract superior
offline and online prices.
Rules: This policy will form the basis for
7. Affordable marketing and advertising the regulation of converged industry; the rules
platforms with quality audience data that we set up will provide an enabling
environment that is secure, open and
8. Providing an all inclusive ICT environment transparent. It will define a competition
by encouraging gender equality and framework to encourage and protect
accessibility to persons with disabilities investments, enforce employment and taxation
rules to drive growth and define the supporting
9. Coordination and cooperation with business infrastructure that allows citizens and
international systems and platforms for the world to do business with Kenyans. This
global reach includes such things as identity management,
cryptography and block chain, and the
4.2 Market extension of traditional laws, regulations and
norms to the online space. As we move towards
By the year 2030, Kenya will have an a knowledge-based economy, the Government
estimated population of 66M, with over 200M will enable access to information to every
devices and sensors connected to the Internet. citizen by encouraging the private sector to
All aspects of our lives including money, publish statistics that will enable the SME
security, governance, agriculture, tourism, market to take advantage of trends. This policy
education and health will be fully and will promote the availability of relevant
seamlessly integrated into the digital economy. audience and demographic data to inform the
Technology is and will continue to catapult the marketing strategies of businesses, and labour
growth of globalisation and trade across market information to inform educators and
borders. Through regional and international employers. Due to the convergence of
integration, the market will be global. The infrastructure and services, the Government
Government recognises, and will leverage our will restructure the regulator to enable
youth demographic as our competitive convergence in the regulation of the ICT
advantage in the global market. Over 1M youth industry, allowing for diversity in
infrastructure, content and services offerings
enter the job market every year; the
Government will use ICTs as an enabler in all in line with the Constitution. This will allow
providing dignity and financial stability to our for the early adoption of emerging trends, such
youth. as over-the-top providers (OTTs), convergence
This policy aims to increase the overall size and rapid changes in the sector. This area
of ICT contribution to the digital and traditional highlights the guidance of government on
economy to 10% of GDP by 2030. In doing so, practice and procedure, and the creation of an
this policy will provide a blueprint for creating overarching architecture for the industry.
things, rules and money. Money: The medium of exchange for goods
Things: For those who want to develop and services is digital and traditional forms of
devices, applications and deliver services to the money. Kenya is currently the global leader in
Kenyan populace, the market will be massive; mobile money with over 70% of the adult
blocks such as Common Market for Eastern and population using these services. This policy
Southern Africa (COMESA), East African aims to promote Kenya as the fintech
Community (EAC), theSmart Africa Alliance and infrastructure hub for the region, and use
the African Continental Free Trade Area will money strategically to direct the market
open up regional, continental and global towards the attainment of national goals. This
markets. We will take advantage of the Internet policy seeks to create a digital environment
of Things (IoT) and the entire infrastructure where money creates value quickly by moving
laid out in our Mobile First objective to scale rapidly and efficiently through the business
our local businesses beyond our borders. The transaction cycle. The fintech opportunities
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 7/37 November-2019and infrastructure will provide an enabling through an ICT Co-Fund that will unlock
environment for businesses to raise capital, list requisite capital, avail easy access to critical
on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and attract technical assistance and actively promote the
foreign direct investment. The policy will also adoption and utilisation of local innovations.
encourage both local and international Public long-term funds will be incentivised to
businesses to be domiciled in Kenya, and get set aside 5% of their investments for the local
high returns. This will in turn attract and retain ICT ecosystem.
global talent in Kenya. The Government will work to encourage
The Government will leverage our skills early Initial Public Offerings in the Growth
and innovations to grow our businesses and Enterprise Market Segment of the Capital
provide a strong intellectual property Market (GEMS) and support the growth of
infrastructure to ensure innovations are Permanent Listed Vehicles that build bridges
protected. It will enable a 24hr economy, between investors and the businesses that need
enforce the use of the National Public Key investment to grow.
Infrastructure and ensure all safety nets are in Government ICT procurement, including
place to protect our money and investments. security and defence, will prioritise award of
tenders to new and innovative local businesses
4.3 Skills and Innovation to permit greater participation by emerging
This policy outlines a careful plan designed enterprises and preferentially adopt home
to jump-start a self-supporting ecosystem that grown solutions. Kenyan built solutions will be
will produce world-class research, technology preferred over any other solution; where there
products and industries. The technology are no local businesses that meet the tender
environment is changing fast and Kenya needs requirements, skills transfer to local firms and
to not just keep up but to lead the charge. In personnel will be a mandatory requirement.
order to ensure that we are always on the right
track, every two years we will reassess 4.4 Public Service Delivery
research and development priorities and set It is our policy that all government services
five new technology goals. The government will must be available online, that every Kenyan has
fund investment in the selected new online access and that government services are
technologies, encourage the private sector to delivered quickly and fully at the time and place
focus on the identified research and investment that they are needed. This ICT policy requires
priority areas and help create skills in those all arms of government to build, deploy,
technologies by funding scholarships, grants, operate and manage locally built back-end and
challenges and innovation awards. front end systems to deliver services. This
Our people need gainful work, by ensuring policy also requires that Kenyan data remains
incentive and educational alignment with in Kenya, and that it is stored safely and in a
global market requirements; Kenyans will be in manner that protects the privacy of citizens to
demand both locally and internationally for the utmost. Government services will be
technical work. We want to be leaders and delivered in a manner that ensures we have a
innovators in the fourth industrial revolution prosperous, free, open and stable society.
and so we want to attract and create the best This policy aims to promote the
educational institutions in the world. We will collaboration of the National and County
continue to encourage partnerships such as the governments to ensure that all services, both
International Space Program in Malindi and physical and digital reach every citizen at a
ensure that our curriculum takes into account guaranteed high level of quality. The ICT policy
the gig economy, generating a skilled workforce requires that:
that is attractive globally.
By 2020, there will be over 5 billion Service charters be published by the public
connected people worldwide; the average sector and citizens sensitised about them.
internet user will be from the emerging
markets and we want to connect with them on Government services be easily accessible to
all digital platforms. Our unique culture and all citizens using their mobile devices
languages put our Country in a strategic anywhere and anytime.
position to innovate for the emerging markets,
forming partnerships and strategies that guide All procurement and tender processes be
our training and skills generation. electronically published and open to all.
The Government will support and enable
the development of a robust technology
entrepreneurship ecosystem in the country
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 8/37 November-2019 Revenue collection to be transparent and Innovation in modern economy in which new
accountable. knowledge plays a central role in boosting
wealth creation, social welfare and
All arms of government implement and international competitiveness. This will be
manage locally built back-end and front-end done through: economic and institutional
systems to deliver services. regime that utilises existing knowledge;
creation of new knowledge and
E-services are provided on platforms that entrepreneurship; educated and skilled
are secure from fraud and breach of privacy population; dynamic information and
of personal information. communication infrastructure that facilitate
processing and dissemination; and effective
All government systems currently innovation system and research.
developed and all future systems be
integrated with each other. 5.2 Rationale for Policy Review
All government services be available online. The review of the policy has been
Every citizen to have online access and that necessitated by the rapid changes and
government services are delivered quickly developments since 2006 in order to keep
and fully at the time and place that they are abreast with development of emerging
needed. technologies. The review is therefore necessary
to cater for the changes in legal and regulatory
Kenyan data remains in Kenya, and that it is frameworks, technology advancement and
stored safely and in a manner that protects emerging issues. These developments include:
the privacy of citizens.
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks:
The Government will be efficient, secure Enactment of Constitution of Kenya 2010,
and open. It will be recognised internationally Kenya Information and Communication
for its innovations and quality in public service Act 2013, Media Act 2013 and
delivery. This policy requires and mandates the restructuring of Government functions.
use of Universal Personal Identifier (UPI) for all
civil servants and citizens and a local payment Technological Advancement: There have
scheme for Government transactions. been many changes in the technological
and competitive space since 2006, some of
these include the convergence of ICT
5 Background technologies, Migration from analogue to
digital TV broadcasting and its effect on
5.1 ICT and Vision 2030 broadcasting market segment and radio
spectrum, and advancement of mobile
technology enabling new services.
The Vision 2030, Kenya’s Long Term
Development Blueprint aims to create a Emerging Issues: Increased IT enabled
globally competitive and prosperous nation, services, increased demand on bandwidth
transforming Kenya into a newly and for Quality of Service (QoS), Challenges
industrialising, middle-income country of cyber security, Regional integration
providing a high quality of life to all its citizens projects and Harmonisation of ICT policies
by 2030 in a clean and secure environment. in the international and regional fore,
Vision 2030 three pillars, namely the Economic, Content in the era of media convergence
Social and Political are anchored on and globalisation; Global partnership on
macroeconomic stability; continuity in Child Online Protection and changing
governance reforms; enhanced equity and consumer preferences.
wealth creation opportunities for the poor. The
Economic Pillar that captures the expectations
of the ICT market seeks to improve the
prosperity of all regions of the country and all
Kenyans by achieving a 10% GDP growth rate
5.3 Guiding Principles of the ICT
by 2017. Policy
ICT is identified as enabler or foundation
for socio economic transformation. The Vision In the development of this policy, these
recognises the role of Science, Technology and principles were taken into account:
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 9/37 November-2019living for Kenyans. The Economic Survey 2018
Economic Agenda report provides an overview of the ICT sector
Put ICT at the centre of the national economic performance and development trends,
agenda, recognising the role of the ICT sector as recognizing that ICT output increased by 10.9%
a critical pillar in national development and the to Ksh 354.1 billion in 2017.
attainment of the goal of becoming and
remaining a global leader in the knowledge- Fibre Optic Coverage: Every county
based economy. headquarters has been reached by the
National Optic Fibre Broadband
Ubiquitous Access Infrastructure (NOFBI) in addition to other
Fulfil the goal of giving every Kenyan access to fibre-optic cables owned by private
reliable, affordable, high-speed broadband companies, Kenya Electricity Transmission
connectivity Company (KETRACO) and Kenya Power
and Lighting Company (KPLC).
Constitutional Principles
Improve government accountability, efficiency, 2G Coverage: Geographical coverage is
service delivery and maintain an open 45% of Kenya’s land area, with 94.4% of
government. Develop and protect citizen rights the population covered.
and duties as enshrined in the constitution of
our republic. 3G Coverage: Geographical coverage is
17%, with 78% of the population covered
Private Sector
Give the interests of the private sector top 4G Coverage: Reaches 37% of the
priority in order to foster entrepreneurship, population and 15% of the surface area.
innovation, investment and growth.
Internet Domains: The total number of
Sustainable Development Internet domains grew by 13.08 per cent to
Leverage ICT to promote sustainable 83,646 in 2018. The number of “.co.ke”
development, accelerate human development, domains increased by 13.72% to account
bridge the digital divide and develop a for 92.5% of the total registered domains in
knowledge society. 2017. Enhanced uptake and use of sub-
domain names as a result of awareness on
5.4 Situational Analysis and Highlights the benefits of use, led to the doubling of
domains under information content,
5.4.1 Regulatory Background mobile content and those used in network
devices to 374, 126 and 466, respectively.
The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, the Kenya
Broadcast Services and Subscriptions: The
Communications Act (No. 2 of 1998) and as
number of Frequency Modulation (FM)
amended by the Kenya Communications
radio stations stood at 173 while Free To
(Amendment) Act, 2009, and the Kenya
Air television stations were 75 in 2018. The
Information and Communications
number of digital signal distributors in the
(Amendment Act) 2013 provide the main
country remained at 5 Digital Terrestrial
framework for regulating the communications
Televisions Set-Top Box (STB)
sector in Kenya. Other statutes include the
subscriptions stood at 4.5 million in 2018
Media Act, 2013 and the Kenya Information and
while cable TV and direct to home satellite
Communications Technology (ICTA) Order
subscriptions stood at 1.28M.
2013; among others.
Newspaper Circulation and online
Newspaper Readership: In 2017, the
circulation of daily English and Kiswahili
newspapers declined by 4.9 per cent and
5.4.2 Operational Environment 9.9 per cent, respectively due to online
readership of newspapers. Similarly, the
Kenya is currently one of Africa’s fastest number of weekly English newspapers in
growing ICT markets where ICTs have circulation decreased by 5.9 per cent over
increased productivity in all spheres of the same period. However, the average
production process and enabled expansion of online readership went up by 20.1 per cent
skills, contributing to improved standards of in 2017.
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 10/37 November-2019has led to fundamentally useful outcomes such
The value of mobile commerce as accurate speech recognition, automated
transactions expanded by 85.5 per cent to expert level medical diagnosis, better-than-
Ksh 3.2 trillion in 2017. The growth was human computer vision, holistic systems like
spurred by customer’s preference for self-driving cars and self guiding drones, and
mobile commerce and the availability of more mundanely improved purchase
these services across the country. recommendation systems, customer credit
rating and epidemic outbreak prediction.
5.4.3 Technology Trends Blockchain and Digital Currency: A peer-
to-peer distributed digital ledger that provides
Gigabit and Petabit Wireless: Networks an immutable time-sequenced record of all
at the edge are going wireless. We observe the transactions (blockchain) is a peer-to-peer
distributed digital ledger that provides an
development of NBase-T, Terahertz wireless
immutable time sequenced record of all
and other high-speed communications
developments, and anticipate their wholesale transactions, does not require trust between
parties and facilitates electronic “smart
adoption across all sectors of Kenya. Kenya will
contracts”. Blockchain can be used to track
standardise on Gigabit/Ethernet speed
wireless networks. digital assets, assets whose ownership can be
Ubiquitous Communications: Internet verified digitally such as land, equities, shares
and derivatives, votes and currency. It’s most
access is available everywhere, all the time to
everybody and everything via mobile phone, famous implementation is in Bitcoin, but it not
Wi-Fi, cable and other means. The internet limited to those domains. A blockchain’s
integrity hinges on strong cryptography that
protocol has become the de-facto means of
validates and chains together blocks of
communication. This trend will intensify and
increase as available speeds improve. transactions, making it nearly impossible to
tamper with any individual transaction record
Pervasive Instrumentation: As more and
without being detected.
more devices and elements of our environment
become network enabled, from electric power The Sharing Economy: The Sharing
meters, industrial equipment to household Economy is a socio-economic ecosystem built
around the sharing of human, physical and
appliances we are entering an era where
everything is producing data continuously and intellectual resources. A sharing economy is an
everything can talk to everything else. This is economic model in which individuals are able
to borrow or rent assets owned by someone
the Internet of Things (IoT) or to use more
recent nomenclature the Internet of Everything else. The sharing economy model is most likely
(IoE). The ability to remotely effect physical to be used when the price of a particular asset
is high, and the asset is not fully utilised all the
change inherently poses significant challenges
time.
and provides enormous advantages. You can
now remotely monitor, manage and change Sitting in any large parking lot are dozens
of cars, which represent hundreds of millions of
processes and states without having to
shillings of non-performing depreciating
physically be present, but it also means you can
do damage, destroy facilities and injure people capital assets. Putting those assets to use, when
remotely. the owner is not using them, is the basic
operating model of ride-sharing and online taxi
Big Data: Every person, device and
instrument has become a data emitter. The companies.
aggregation and storage of these enormous Communities of people have shared the use
of assets for thousands of years, but the advent
data volumes has led to a technical
of the Internet has made it easier for asset
phenomenon called big data. The storage,
analysis and interpretation of big data requires owners and those seeking to use those assets to
find each other. This sort of lending is
specialised techniques and equipment for
sometimes referred to as a peer-to-peer (P2P)
which we must be prepared. Kenya is currently
a net emitter of data and the facilities, capability rental market.
and interest in being a sink need to be Sharing economies allow individuals and
groups to make money from underused assets.
developed. We need to develop the capacity to
store and use our own data. In this way, physical assets are shared as
Deep Learning: Machine learning is a services. For example, a car owner may allow
someone to rent out their vehicle while they are
branch of artificial intelligence focusing on data
not using it, or a homeowner may rent out their
classification, trend identification and
predictive analytics. Using big data for machine home while they are on vacation.
learning is called deep learning. Deep learning
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 11/37 November-2019The Gig Economy: The gig economy is a 3. Cultural and attitudinal resistance to
labour market characterised by the prevalence the implementation of ICT-based
of short-term contracts or freelance work as services and offerings
opposed to permanent jobs. In order to be
successful in the gig economy, each individual 4. Cybercrime and cyber-security
needs to manage their time and finances as if vulnerabilities
they were a one-man company.
The mobility of white-collar work, the 5. Inadequate policies, legal and
emergence of freelancing platforms and the institutional frameworks at the
drive for operational efficiency have national and devolved county levels of
transformed the nature of work. The fastest job government
growth globally is in “nonemployee” firm’s i.e.
self-employed, short term contract (measured 6. A dearth of competent and skilled
in hours), remote and telecommuting workers. human capacity due to inadequately
These participants in what is called the gig- and inappropriately equipped
economy, where people eschew formal salaried universities and tertiary institutions
employment for freelancing work are a
growing and significant proportion of the 7. An underdeveloped innovation
workforce. ecosystem that hinders the
Adaptive Security Architecture: The development and growth of Kenyan
complexities of digital business and the corporations and industry
algorithmic economy, combined with an
emerging “hacker industry,” significantly 8. Structural and legal inadequacies that
increase the threat surface for our nation. We hinder the development and evolution
need to develop the capacity to detect and of online transactions, such as a
respond to threats, secure our communications National Addressing System (NAS)
and data, protect our people and infrastructure,
and develop resilience in the face of disaster.
Mass Personalisation and Personalised 6 Policy Focus Areas
Manufacturing: The widespread availability of
experience individuation by such services as
The Kenya National ICT Policy outlines the
Facebook and Google has created an
policy of the Government of Kenya in relation to
expectation of personalised custom public
the design, development, acquisition,
service delivery. Cost effective small-run
deployment, operation, support and evolution
manufacturing technologies such as 3D
of public and private ICTS. It defines the current
printing have transformed marketplace
and forward looking position of the
dynamics making a marketplace of one
government on various areas of the evolving
economically feasible. This evolution in the
and emerging technology landscape in Kenya.
calculus of economies of scale will have a
significant impact on Kenyan industry.
6.1 Mobile First
5.5 Challenges
6.1.1 Background
There are significant challenges to be
overcome in achieving the goals of this policy in The government recognises that to become
the short term. Some of these challenges, and remain globally competitive in the
addressed in this policy, include: emerging order, it is necessary to invest in and
provide the conditions for always-on, high
1. Unequal investment and access to ICTs speed, wireless data connectivity for every
in un-served and under-served areas citizen, everywhere in Kenya. In order to
within Kenya support this goal it is necessary that there be a
robust, capable backbone to back haul traffic,
2. The under-utilisation of ICTs in the and that the conditions in the marketplace are
provision of government services and conducive to the provision of competitively
the underdevelopment of priced, affordable last-mile connectivity for
opportunities for economic growth every citizen. This policy outlines the
and job creation conditions required for the private sector led
provision of services, and provides for the
regulation and incentives for affordable high-
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 12/37 November-2019speed wireless access across the length and optimal service reliability, redundancy, carrier
breadth of Kenya. To balance the principle of and net neutrality, and the security of data both
open access with the need to provide at rest and in transit. To this end:
commercial incentives that foster investment,
the Communications Authority (CA) will license 1. The National Government will develop a
county-based service providers to offer last National Integrated Infrastructure plan.
mile access solutions and provide equitable and Each County Government will also develop
affordable access to NOFBI for such licensed a County Integrated Infrastructure Plan.
providers. These integrated plans will be designed to
facilitate rational, cost-effective, sustainable
6.1.2 ICT Infrastructure and Access and easily maintained ICT infrastructure by
multiple stakeholders
The Constitution of Kenya establishes a
devolved system of government and provides 2. The National Government will develop a
inter alia that broadcasting, postal and central publicly available registry of the ICT
telecommunications services shall be the infrastructure and resources of government
mandate of the national government. In agencies, operators, utility companies and
fulfilment of this mandate the national infrastructure building companies to which
government has invested and continues to reference may be made to prevent
invest in a National Optic Fibre Backbone unnecessary duplication and waste of
Infrastructure (NOFBI). Counties are scarce ICT resources. Regulations will be
encouraged to provide ICT infrastructure and promulgated to ensure that regular and
skills development as will permit them to take accurate reports are made by government
advantage of this national ICT policy. The agencies, licensees and utility companies.
national government will provide such
technical and knowledge support as the 3. Government will strictly enforce quality of
counties may require to give regional effect to service regulations to ensure reliability and
this policy. availability of services
This policy mandates the deployment of
the following services and systems: 4. Government will provide industry players
with equitable access to publicly owned
Infrastructure Sharing: Infrastructure infrastructure
development and deployment is a capital-
intensive undertaking and should be managed 5. Government will review the National
on a prudential basis nationally. The Broadband Strategy to ensure provision of
government will continue, as it has, to invest in high-speed affordable connectivity to all
common, publicly available high capital citizens in all places. Where it is not
undertakings such as a national data transport commercially viable for operators to invest
backbone, central and regional data centres, in infrastructure, the government will
and carefully managed shared radio promptly build and develop publicly owned
frequencies. The Communications Authority supporting infrastructure to facilitate
will oversee access, license operators, and commercial last mile service provision.
regulate and price commercial access to
infrastructure built with public funds. All 6. The Government will adopt an Enterprise
infrastructure built with public funds will be Architecture to govern the implementation
available for use by Kenyan private and and deployment of infrastructure,
commercial operators on fair, affordable and hardware, software, systems and services
equitable terms without prejudice to their size, across the public sector in a coherent, cost-
location or composition. A legal framework will effective and sustainable manner. In order
be developed to provide for a fair use policy, by to ensure efficient use of funds and limited
which privately established infrastructure may resources, the Government shall reach
on fair commercial terms be made available by agreements for economic bulk purchase of
one operator to others. The Communications software licenses and standard ICT
Authority will ensure that the arrangements equipment. All government Ministries,
between operators and service providers Departments, Agencies and bodies are
provide national resilience to disasters, required to acquire such licenses and
equitable access to naturally limited resources equipment, as they need, at the reduced
and sites, and that collocation of services and government negotiated price. These prices
equipment is encouraged, while ensuring will be submitted to the Public Procurement
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 13/37 November-2019Oversight Authority for inclusion in the approved by the Ministry of ICT, which will
Market Price Index. not permit new investment where there is
available capacity in any other ministry that
7. The Government will liaise with all relevant may be used, thus providing a cost efficient,
government agencies to require that all new scalable and secure environment for
commercial and private developments are government data and information storage;
designed and adequately provided with
facilities for high-speed connectivity 2. The government will promote, encourage
and license private sector investment in
8. The Government will be open to, support neutral data centres by companies
and encourage the development of new incorporated for that purpose;
business models that provide for
infrastructure sharing or the provision of 3. Encourage Kenyan businesses and County
services in under-served and unserved governments to share data centre
areas. The government will design infrastructure to minimise network
incentives, or provide funding on such duplication;
terms and in such manner as will best
achieve ubiquitous broadband access. 4. This policy mandates the development of
standards for data centres, providing legal
Internet Exchange Points: Internet and regulatory coherence with Kenyan
Exchange Points (IXP) help strengthen the local safety and environmental protection
Internet ecosystem, develop the local Internet standards. The standards will take
industry. Their benefits include: cognisance of national disaster recovery
and resilience frameworks, and the
Improve Internet quality and affordability constitutional requirements of devolution
in local communities; and diversity;
Improved local Internet connectivity; 5. Regulations and laws will be enacted that
specifically ensure that data is processed
Improve competitiveness; fairly and lawfully in accordance with the
rights of citizens and obtained only for
Serve as a hub for technical activity; and specific, lawful purposes, and that clearly
establish that all data on a person is owned
Encourage local service hosting and local by the person;
content development and applications.
6. The government will ensure the availability
The Government encourages partnerships of basic infrastructure for approved data
that seek to enhance peering and centers, such as reliable grid power,
interconnection through deploying additional subsidised or discounted electric power
IXPs and use of deployed infrastructure, costs, access to the national publicly-owned
including national and international fibre data transport backbone, security within
cables, and local data centre development. the context of the national cyber-security
framework, physical policing plans, and the
Data Centres: The Government will national data classification guidelines. All
develop guidelines for current and future data centres that hold public data must be a
centres to avoid inefficient public and private minimum of a level 2 Data Centre.
ad-hoc investments.
With the mandated requirement for the Rights of Way/Way Leaves: Rights of
licensing of county based last-mile service way, way leaves, permits and clearances have
providers, County governments are been a persistent and recurring challenge to the
encouraged to create shared data centres for deployment of cabling plant, towers and other
local peering and internet traffic exchange. In infrastructure. The Government will:
support of this policy objective:
1. Work with County Governments to develop
1. All government Ministries, Departments harmonised way leave guidelines and
and Agencies shall share and optimise data charges that protect the ICT infrastructure,
centre infrastructure. All government data optimise usage, protect the environment
centres, not specifically designated for and roads, and prevent multiple charges;
national security purposes, shall be
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 14/37 November-20192. Require that all current and future road, rail
and underground power grid designs Complementary Infrastructure: The
incorporate common crossing ducts to Government recognises that the economic
prevent damage wherever crossing is impact of ICT is contextual and dependent on
needed and provide commonly available other complementary infrastructure such as
fiber ducts along their length; energy, transport and communications.
The Government will:
3. Take direct corrective measures to protect
against way leave encroachment by 1. Provide incentives that enable the
developers especially land owners whose development of infrastructure for the public
properties front major highways and other good
access roads;
2. Strengthen mechanisms that ensure open
4. Where there are no pre-existing ducts, to access for all players and users
require infrastructure sharing on new
builds as a pre-requisite condition for 3. Provide support infrastructure such as
licensing. The government will where roads, power grid access, and security to
appropriate provide fee breaks, incentives, support ICT development
discounts, government cost-sharing and
grants to the primary duct developer and Domiciliation of Manufacture: It is the
require the provision of equitable access to government’s aim and policy to establish the
other service providers, government manufacture of ICT equipment and
agencies and utility companies. infrastructure components in Kenya. To this
end, the government has provided in various
Wireless Data Infrastructure: The sections of this policy, incentives and various
Government will facilitate the ubiquitous measures to achieve this objective, such as:
deployment of new-generation high-speed
wireless broadband connectivity 1. Ensuring that a percentage of rare earths
infrastructure, in order to reduce from- the- mined in Kenya are kept for domestic
curb and in-building deployment costs, consumption and manufacture
improve the cost effectiveness of broadband
delivery and access, and provide effective, 2. Providing fiscal incentives for the creation
reliable, secure internet infrastructure. All new of local manufacturing plants
government network builds and deployments
will consider a wireless-first approach. This 3. Providing for technology licensing
requirement especially applies to village, small assistance to Kenyan enterprises
community and government building
networks. 4. The provision of free government funded
consultancy and mentoring services
Broadcast Signal Distribution: The especially to the ICT manufacturing sector
Government will continue to license broadcast
signal distribution services depending on the 5. Regional and continental trade assistance
market growth and the availability of the and market access, amongst others
required radio frequency spectrum resources
to ensure that the use of broadcasting 6.1.3 Universal Access
infrastructure is maximised and frequencies
are utilised efficiently. All licensed signal It is the policy of Government to ensure
distributors will be required to provide that ICT services both public and private, and
services to licensees on an open access and the requisite knowledge to deploy and use
non-discriminatory basis. them are available to our citizens at the time,
place and manner that they are required, and
IPv6: The Government will support and also that all citizens can and will participate in
encourage the migration to modern internet the knowledge economy.
protocols that provide functional efficiency and
sufficient scope for future technological The government will seek to ensure that:
developments. All national government
installations will use IPv6 at a minimum. All 1. The Universal Service Fund is prudently
new national government installations must managed to drive universal access and that
use IPv6. service is provided in areas service
Ministry of ICT, Kenya 15/37 November-2019providers do not consider economically 3. Legal framework and technical support for
viable; blockchain: to securely record all
transactions
2. High quality internet access is available
everywhere in Kenya; 4. Regulatory and Legal support for digital
payments: to enable safe financial
3. Every Kenyan can afford a device that they transactions
can use to access the Internet;
5. A delivery services framework for the
4. Every Kenyan has access to free advice delivery of physical goods and services
about appropriate digital technology
choices for their needs; 6. Recognition and enforcement of digital
contracts to build confidence in online
5. Every Kenyan has the skills they need to use transactions
their choice of digital technology
appropriately; 7. Cyber and computer crime and Critical
Infrastructure legislation.
6. Kenya receives global recognition as a safe
place to do digital business. The policy envisages that citizens will use a
wide variety of devices: smartphones, tablets,
This requires a multidimensional approach computers and Internet of Things devices.
to the tri-fold challenge of ubiquity, utility and However, the basic properties required of all
participation. these devices are that they should be
affordable, secure, internet-enabled,
Ubiquity: The challenge of equipping the identifiable and should promote mobility.
entire geography of our nation with the Since internet-enablement is a basic
infrastructure and connectivity to make data principle of participation this policy seeks to
everywhere available is variously addressed in facilitate connection to the network with a
this policy document. It is the government’s secure digital identifier and the delivery of a
policy to treat all populated areas of our mandated minimum bandwidth (defined in the
country equally and provide equivalent Broadband Strategy) to enable reasonable
infrastructure per capita. quality of interaction.
Participation: To achieve the full Attitudinal Change: Support Purely online
participation of every Kenyan it is the transactions for non-digital goods
government’s policy to provide every citizen foundationally require a degree of trust and
with the Tools, Attitudinal change support, trustworthiness combined with an openness to
Skills and Knowledge (TASK) necessary to change and innovation. This policy recognizes
participate in our joint digital future. The plan that there are certain attitudes and behaviours
is to ensure that a significant proportion of that should be encouraged in order for Kenya to
Kenyans’ life, work and play will be digital. maintain and grow it’s leadership in the African
and global digital space.
Tools: The tools provide the environment
through which people can access, use and enjoy It is the government and people of Kenya’s
the technology in their work, community and confident viewpoint that Kenya is a leader and
recreational activities. These include services, not a follower in this realm. We have observed
devices, access and applications. It is the what this confident attitude has done for Kenya
government’s policy to provide: in the world of sports, especially athletics and
team sports, and we believe that it can have
1. A Digital Identity (Universal Personal similar a dramatic result in the realm of
Identifier) for every citizen: for the safe and technology.
lawful use of services; This policy seeks to promulgate a digital
culture wherein citizens have a preference for
2. Public Key Infrastructure: To provide for activities, goods and services that are
security of transactional data, party channelled and / or facilitated through
recognition and contractual validity technology and where all strata of society
integrate digital technologies into their lives as
a natural way of performing all the activities
necessary for life and happiness. The policy will
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