KDEAP Stakeholder Engagement Meeting

The ICT Authority convened a critical stakeholder engagement meeting as part of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP), which is funded by the World Bank. The primary objective of the KDEAP initiative is to accelerate Kenya's progress towards the digital economy. KDEAP is structured around five key components: Digital Infrastructure, Digital Government and Services, Digital Skills and Markets, Project Management, and Contingent Emergency Response.

State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, PS John Tanui emphasized that the private sector will be vital to the success of KDEAP by investing in digital infrastructure to improve broadband access, foster innovation, create jobs and enhance digital skills. The government aims to deploy 52,000 km of fiber, while the private sector is expected to contribute an additional 48,000 km.

World Bank Lead ICT Policy Specialist Dr. Tim Kelly encouraged the ICT industries in the private sector to participate in KDEAP. "The project will increase access to broadband through an expansion of the fiber optic backbone and last mile connectivity to government and learning institutions, as well as along Kenya's borders, benefiting the regional digital market," he added.

"Infrastructure is dear to us. We are able to do more than what is planned and take the lead in ensuring that all Kenyans have internet connectivity and get government services online," TESPOK CEO Dr. Fiona Asonga said.

ICT Authority CEO, Stanley Kamanguya appreciated and highlighted the essential collaborative role of the private sector and other agencies in the acceleration projects and in achieving ICT Authority's objective in the Digital Master Plan.

"We aim to strengthen collaboration that extends beyond just infrastructure and systems, that builds solutions and co-runs them with the government. This will ensure reliable internet connectivity at homes, institutions and stimulate business growth for efficient service delivery," Kamanguya stated. He also encouraged the private sector to participate actively in the Connected Africa Summit to showcase their products and solutions, which can help unlock creativity and enhance innovation.

The ICT Authority's stakeholder engagement meeting highlighted the vital role of collaboration in the successful implementation of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP). Through discussions with key stakeholders, including private sector players, government officials, and industry leaders, the meeting addressed important aspects of the project, including policy challenges, infrastructure rollout, equitable distribution of opportunities and cost-effectiveness.