Fred Matiangi, cabinet secretary for ICT. CC image courtesy of CCK
The Kenyan government wants to increase the contribution made to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by ICT to 10 per cent from the current 2.9 per cent by 2017.
This is according to Ministry of ICT cabinet secretary Dr Fred Matiangi, who was speaking at the launch of the European Union week and photo exhibition at the National Museums of Kenya.
He said the government was keen on promoting partnerships and encouraging investments to facilitate knowledge and capacity transfer to Kenyan companies, with the government mainstreaming ICTs in the country’s development agenda.
“To achieve this, we continue to invest in ICTs, recognising technology as the main driver of Kenya’s economic growth. I wish to state that the government is keen to develop these areas further, given the immense opportunities they present in the development and use of ICTs in boosting economic empowerment within our communities,” said Matiangi.
“Further, our expectations were that we would in the fullness of time harness the power of ICTs to transform the livelihoods of our people.”
So far, Matiangi said, the country has had substantial financial, material and human resources devoted to entrenching ICTs to its development, with efforts clearly manifested in Kenya’s legal and regulatory policy frameworks.
“To this end, the government has laid out an elaborate ICT infrastructure, created a skilled human resource base and remains committed to the use of ICTs for innovative, effective and efficient delivery of information and services to the citizens,” he said.
The ICT sector in Kenya grew at an average of about 20 per cent per year from 1999 to 2010, with Matiangi saying employment opportunities attributable to the sector have continued to increase dramatically.
