ICT Ministry seeks to digitize all gov't services by June

Speaking during the official opening of the Third Nation Digital Summit in Mombasa, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo said the government is implementing the Kenya National Digital Master Plan for 2022-2032, as the prime enabler of the country’s digital priorities.

Owalo said the government is working on ICT to deliver more efficient information and public services by digitizing government records and digitalizing 5,000 government services.

“Our proposition of 5,000 services by June is realistic and attainable. We are targeting the private sector so that we get an impact on our economy through the shortest time possible,” he said.

Owalo said digital infrastructure, digital services and data management; digital skills; digital entrepreneurship and effective alignment to policy; legal and regulatory frameworks are the five key pillars driving the digital transformation agenda.

He also added that 839 services have already been onboarded to the E-citizen platform and is now aiming at his target by getting 300 services to the platform on a weekly basis by the month of June 2023.

“As part of our digitalization agenda towards a paperless government, the cabinet office and meetings have already been digitized for efficiency and effectiveness,” said Owalo.

“We are correspondingly ensuring that KRA is able to chip in and ensure we have adequate resources for our tax revenue to be able to expound and bring more people on the tax base and enhance our recurrent and development expenditure,” he added.

Under the digital infrastructure pillar, the government has embarked on providing adequate internet that is available and accessible everywhere.

On the same, Owalo said they are expanding the national digital superhighway fibre optic cable by 100,000km over the next five years in partnership with the private sector.

“With cabinet approval now in place, we are now set to roll out an initial 5,000 km by June 2023 and the rest will be done by the private sector,” he said.

He added that the government is making people digitally literate, equipping them with digital skills through learning and enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship by establishing digital village smart hubs and studios in wards which will facilitate the online jobs preferably the youth.

“With digital skills, citizens can adopt, use and monetize online technical, commercial and creative artistic opportunities.” he said.