3 Vision and Mission 3.1 Vision Kenya as a globally competitive knowledge based economy 3.2 Mission To facilitate universal access to ICT infrastructure and services all over the country 5. Gain global recognition for innovation, efficiency and quality in public service delivery. Government services will be delivered in a manner that ensures we have a prosperous, free, open and stable society. In light of the policy objectives outlined, this policy will focus on 4 key areas: 4 Overview of the Policy This policy is designed to realise the potential of the digital economy by creating an enabling environment for all citizens and stakeholders. A review of the 2006 policy was necessitated by the rapid changes and developments in the ICT sector, evolving global trends and the fast-changing public needs. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is driving automation and massive data exchange, impacting our macro and microenvironments and increasing the level of ICT consumption worldwide. It is for this reason that we are setting up a policy designed to take advantage of these changes and trends that will enable Kenya to become a more prosperous participant in the global economy. The ICT Policy defines the forward-looking position of the Government on various areas of the evolving ICT sector landscape in Kenya. The policy objectives: 1. Create the infrastructure conditions that enable the use of always-on, high speed, wireless, internet across the country. 2. Facilitate the creation of infrastructure and frameworks that support the growth of data centres, pervasive instrumentation (Internet of Things), machine learning and local manufacturing while fostering a secure, innovation ecosystem. 3. Grow the contribution of ICT to increase the overall size of the digital and traditional economy to 10% of GDP by 2030, by using ICT as a foundation for the creation of a more robust economy, providing secure income and livelihoods to the citizenry. Leverage regional and international cooperation and engagements to ensure that Kenya is able to harness global opportunities. Ministry of ICT, Kenya 4. Position the country to take advantage of emerging trends such as the shared and gig economy, by enhancing our education institutions and the skills of our people and by fostering an innovation and start-up ecosystem that is able lead in the adoption of emerging trends on a global scale. 1. 2. 3. 4. Mobile First Market Skills and Innovation Public Service Delivery 4.1 Mobile First The heavy investment by Government in internet connectivity infrastructure has enabled access by 99.9% of our citizenry, mostly via mobile phones. Internet access anywhere and at any time is pivotal to the successful growth of a knowledge economy. The Government will continue to invest in infrastructure for universal, always-on, high speed, wireless data connectivity for every citizen. The government takes cognisance of the global trend of ubiquitous computing which shows that the world is going mobile people want to access the internet anywhere and at any time. In recognition of this trend, this policy will drive a mobile first approach, ensuring that every Kenyan has reasonable access by focusing on mobile and wireless infrastructure. The government will provide the network; storage and processing infrastructure frameworks and guidelines that will see Kenya successfully compete on a global scale. This will include: 1. Investments in the infrastructure needed for work such as data centres, hardware, software, telecommunications, networks and broadcasting 2. Creating an enabling environment for the local assembly and manufacturing of devices 3. Strengthening of our payments and logistics infrastructure 6/37 November-2019