This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
Kenya is taking a significant step towards embracing the digital economy, with the National Treasury and ICT ministries forming a taskforce to drive development in this area. The team, chaired by ICT Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng, comprises members from the two ministries and the World Bank.
Speaking at a meeting at the Treasury Building on Monday, National Treasury Ag Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani emphasized the importance of prioritizing the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in development plans. He noted that ICTs hold immense economic transformation potential and that the project will help prevent wastage in both government departments and the private sector.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru highlighted Kenya's central role in Africa's digital economy, stating that the country has launched a blueprint for the rest of Africa to fashion a special intervention to empower youth with practical ICT skills. He also mentioned that 24 African nations have officially joined the African Digital Economy Alliance, representing 660 million people.
World Bank Senior Digital Specialist Casey Torgusson praised Kenya for prioritizing and embracing technology to improve services, saying that the country is undertaking a commendable effort to leverage the emerging digital market to attain Vision 2030.
Published on August 5, 2019