The ICT Authority Presents the National Digital Master Plan (2020-30) Report

The ICT Authority has developed a ten-year National Digital Master Plan (2020-30) centered around leveraging technology to achieve the Vision 2030 aspiration of to enable Kenya become Africa’s most globally competitive economy that ICT driven.
This was said in a speech read by Secretary for Administration, Lucy Mulili, on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs, Joe Mucheru during a workshop hosted by the ICT Authority Ag. CEO, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh.

The CS noted that the National Digital Masterplan is envisaged to become a single point of reference for all government ICT plans to ease coordination and management.

“I note that the Masterplan has taken into consideration Kenya vision 2030 economic blueprint and ICT initiatives not achieved under the previous ICT Masterplan(2014-17).This document is largely informed by the national ICT policy of 2019 which is now guiding how ICT, as a foundation, is creating a robust economy thus improving the livelihoods for Kenyans,” added Mucheru.
While enumerating key ICT priorities and agenda, the CS further stated that the country has gained global recognition for innovation and increased ICT infrastructure.

“On ICT infrastructure, my Ministry has completed under the National Fiber Optic Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI), another ongoing project is the East Africa regional transport trade development facilitation project which is opening up Northern Kenya and South Sudan,” he added.
The CS further indicated that the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project will open up the entire North Eastern region for ICT enabled businesses adding that the master plan will guide a citizen center delivery of e-government services in a consistent and integrated manner.
“On digital services, Wanjiku is now receiving many government services online. This is happening at Huduma centers in a quick, efficient and safe manner. Kenya is now leading in ICT skilled workforce and the country has bridged the gap between industry requirements and the capabilities of the local workforce,” he added.

Mucheru further said that once implemented the draft Masterplan will guide a structured ICT delivery and fast track of the realization of the Vision 2030 and Agenda 2063 and called upon sector players to ensure it is fully implemented for the benefit of the country.

The Kenya National Digital Masterplan is anchored on four pillars namely: - Digital Infrastructure, Digital Services & Data Management, Digital Skills & Digital Innovation, Enterprise & Digital Business.
The four critical pillars are visualized to connect all the unserved and underserved areas with ICT, provisioning and management of e-Government services to enhance efficiency, developing a digitally skilled workforce with ethical practices and academia and industry players collaboration in finding sustainable digital solutions.

The other thematic areas are: research and development, information security and cyber management & emerging technologies.
The Master Plan is projected to create six ICT flagship digital infrastructure projects by 2030 through construction of 100,000 kms of national fibre optic connectivity network and other technologies.
The fibre optic connectivity network and other technologies include 52,000Km for government networks and 48,000Km for private networks to provide reliable and affordable connectivity to education institutions, health institutions, metros, government offices, counties, wards, rural areas, businesses and homes.

The proposed digital infrastructure project include: 25,000 hotspots in public installations, rural areas, businesses and public spaces, development of government cloud, establishment of regional ICT infrastructure hub and sustainable power plan for ICT Installations through green energy plants.
The Master Plan proposes the establishment of a government digitization Centre and platforms to digitalize and automate 500 million government records annually, which translates to 5 billion records by 2030.
The Digital Service and Data Management services are focused on creating paperless government offices by automating critical government services including integrated health management system, education, immigration, judiciary, parliamentary, tax and revenue, security, agriculture, election, transport, registration of persons and company registrations.

Through the Digital Service pillar is the proposal for development and implementation of a strategy for  the digital literacy capacity for 20 million Kenyans, including special interest groups and the creation of 1,450 community training centres, 290 Constituency hubs in five years.
The pillar also proposes the setting up of electronic plants to manufacture and assemble laptops and supply 1.2 million laptops to schools, train 350,000 teachers on use of technology and connect 40,000 schools with sustainable internet.
The digital service pillar proposes for development of curriculum and training of 10,000 public servants in high end specialized ICT areas, capacity building of 20,000 ICT professionals, training of 300,000 civil servants on digital skills and 250,000 county staff.
The Master Plan also offers the establishment of two Kenya software industries, adoption and utilization of smart technologies and establishment of two smart technology coordination centres.

The Information Security and cyber management pillar proposes for creation of the national government Cyber Security Operation Centre with regional cyber-security centre of excellence among others.
Among those present during a review workshop of the Kenya National Digital Masterplan at Pride Inn Hotel Paradise in Mombasa included Data Protection Commissioner Immaculate Kassait, Konza Technopolis CEO Eng. John Tanui, Kenya Film Commission CEO, Timothy Owasse, the Media Council CEO David Omwoyo, Ag. CEO of the Kenya Classification Board, Chris Wambua. Others present were   Administration Secretaries  Mwongo Chimwaga and Edwin Ngetich representing the State Departments of Youth Affair as well as Broadcasting & Telecommunications respectively.
The Accounting Officers of the various agencies under the Ministry gave their input which will go a long way in enriching the Kenya National Digital Masterplan which is also expected to guide their respective agencies in the delivery of the service to the citizen as ICT is at the core to driving the country towards full realization of the digital economy.

They further observed the document foundation and pillars are critical to helping the nation achieve social-economic growth and vision 2030 targets besides developing literacy capability of the citizenry to venture on digital business opportunities.
The country’s youthful population is projected to be the biggest beneficiary of the masterplan as it underscores wealth creation and job opportunities, a document that would further propel the country as a regional and global vibrant technical and innovation hub.