President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the development of Kenya must be driven by technology, by creating a business climate that “encourages innovation, investment and growth”.
The president also said during the opening of the eleventh parliament that his government will legislate to increase local content in local free-to-air television channels from 40 per cent to 60 per cent.
“Kenyans who have received international recognition and nomination for international awards have shown that investing in the arts and entertainment sectors will not only create jobs; it will boost tourism, and promote our culture around the world. To that end we will legislate to increase local content to 60 per cent from the current 40 per cent in local free to air TV channels,” the president said.
Kenyatta added his government will propose a sessional paper providing for an increase in the number of institutes of technology in every county and ending the practice of transforming mid-level colleges to universities started by his predecessor Mwai Kibaki.
He said there is need to focus on education and technology, terming the global economy “knowledge-based and technology driven”.
He reiterated his promise that laptops will be given to all Class One students next year, and added they will be assembled locally.
The new government, according to Kenyatta, is committed to providing its education system with the right tools to compete in the digital age.
He said that although many had described his dream of a better education system as ambitious, the approach was necessary if Kenya was to meet its current challenges.
“As such, I call upon both Houses to work with me to ensure that in future, the laptops we provide are assembled locally,” he said. He emphasised the free laptop policy is among his government’s top priority pledges, saying that he will see to it that the necessary framework is in place in the next 100 days.
