The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, under the leadership of Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eliud Owalo, has completed a remarkable one-year journey with several key achievements in digitalization, cybersecurity, funding agreements and policy development.
TechMoran addressed the first 10 milestones. Here is the continuation of the comprehensive overview of their scorecard from June 2022 to June 2023:
Digitalization Of Cabinet: The Ministry states in collaboration with various government agencies, established a Joint Implementation Team to digitize and automate cabinet operations. As a result, 92 video conferencing facilities were installed across government Ministries, state departments, and other key offices.
The initiative culminated in the first-ever paperless cabinet meeting in January 2023, revolutionizing the way the cabinet conducts its business.
Cyber Security, Risk Mitigation, And Data Protection: The Ministry initiated the process of ratifying the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (the Malabo Convention).
“The convention aims to harmonize data protection and privacy laws across Africa, ensuring robust protection for citizens’ data.”
The office of the Data Commissioner was also established and operationalized to oversee data protection efforts.
A multi-agency government team was formed to handle cybersecurity, ensuring a coordinated approach to tackling cyber threats.
Negotiated WB Funding – Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Program (KDEAP): The Ministry successfully secured funding worth $570 million from the World Bank for the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Program.
The funding is allocated to various components such as broadband access, digital government services infrastructure, digital skills, and more.
This initiative is expected to boost the digital economy and enhance public service delivery.
Universal Service Fund Funding: Through negotiations, the Ministry secured Sh5 billion from the Universal Service Fund to support the digitization agenda of the Kenyan government.
This funding will be utilized for laying fibre optic cables to improve internet connectivity in underserved areas and the digitalization of government services.
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Revitalization: The Ministry adopted a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), focusing on infrastructure upgrades, content and business model reviews, and retooling.
This includes modernizing the TV centre, purchasing TV and radio OB vans, upgrading broadcasting infrastructure and increasing FM radio coverage.
KBC is also expanding its services and coverage through collaborations with other agencies and entities.
Revitalization of the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) and Improved E-Government Delivery: The Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) underwent significant improvements, generating over Sh200 million in revenue from delivering passports across the country.
PCK collaborated with the Department of Immigration to offer a streamlined service for passport delivery.
The corporation also expanded its Expedited Mail Services (EMS) and scaled up services with various government agencies, generating substantial revenue for logistics services.
Digital Skills to Support E-Commerce in Free Wi-Fi and Digital Hub Centers: PCK conducted a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) program to equip 500 employees as e-commerce ambassadors in post offices and high-density market areas.
This program aims to enhance the e-commerce capacity of traders and offer logistical services nationwide.
Establishment of A National Contact Centre: The Ministry initiated the establishment of a “National Contact Center” to serve as a central point for citizens to interact with the government through digital communication channels.
The contact centre is being piloted in specific regions and will eventually provide 24/7 support to citizens seeking government services.
Implementation & Operationalization of Digital Signature: The Ministry worked on implementing and operationalizing a digital signature to secure document authentication and facilitate secure e-commerce transactions for government entities.
Legal and Policy Frameworks: The Ministry embarked on several policy and legislative initiatives to improve communication management, data protection, access to information and the legal foundation for various agencies and institutions.
For instance, “Policy: National Policy on Public Relations and Communication Management. Purpose of Policy: To professionalize information sharing between institutions/organizations and their public, there is a need to create a statutory self-regulatory body for the public relations and communication management professionals both in the public and private sectors in Kenya. Status: Awaiting Cabinet Approval.”
These initiatives are crucial to foster a conducive environment for the digital economy.
CS Eliud Owalo’s noted that the achievements of the ministry in its first year set a strong foundation for continued growth and innovation in the country’s digital landscape.
