- In a keynote address at the 29th Annual Assemblies and the EACO Extraordinary Congress, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication, and Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, highlighted the nation’s commitment to driving digital transformation within the East African Community (EAC).
The event, held in collaboration between the East African Communications Organization (EACO) Secretariat and the Communications Authority of Kenya, brought together regional leaders to discuss the theme, “Promoting Digital Transformation in The EAC Region.”
CS Owalo emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in harnessing the digital economy’s potential. He praised the EACO’s role in aligning the aspirations of the EAC member states, particularly through digital initiatives.
“Kenya’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) has identified ICTs as a critical enabler of economic growth,” Owalo stated. He outlined Kenya’s ambitious Digital Transformation Agenda, which includes the deployment of 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables, the establishment of 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, and 1,450 ICT hubs across the country within the next five years. These initiatives aim to provide widespread broadband access, affordable ICT devices, and essential digital skills training to citizens.
So far, Kenya has laid over 10,000 kilometers of fiber and deployed more than 2,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots. Owalo underscored the potential for private sector collaboration in expanding these efforts, which he believes will bolster Kenya’s and the region’s leadership in ICT.
The establishment of ICT hubs and Wi-Fi hotspots is intended to create digital marketplaces, enhancing connectivity for traders and entrepreneurs, particularly among youth and women. Recognizing the necessity of digital skills, the government has trained nearly 400,000 youths under the Jitume program, with plans to train many more.
Further, Owalo highlighted Kenya’s strides in local assembly of mobile phones, with about one million devices produced by the East Africa Device Assembly Kenya. Approximately 70 percent of these devices, sold at an affordable cost of 40 USD each, have already reached the market. This initiative addresses the demand for affordable digital devices within the EAC region.
“Digitization of public services is another cornerstone of Kenya’s digital agenda. We have digitized 16,962 government services, available on the E-Citizen platform, enabling citizens to access these services seamlessly. This initiative aims to enhance convenience and efficiency in accessing government services, a critical aspect of the digital transformation agenda” Owalo stated
He further noted the impact of digital transformation on various sectors, such as the judiciary and healthcare, where technology facilitates access to justice and quality healthcare even in remote areas.
Addressing regulatory and legal frameworks, Owalo commended EACO’s efforts in harmonizing regimes across member states. He urged further adoption of initiatives like the One Network Area (ONA) to boost regional interaction and e-commerce. He also highlighted the importance of cybersecurity, SIM card registration, ICT equipment standardization, e-waste management, and green ICTs in achieving digital transformation goals.
As the EAC expands, ICT CS called for strengthened regional cooperation to embrace the opportunities presented by the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). He emphasized the region’s need to lead in establishing a single digital market and digital identity for the continent.
Owalo reaffirmed Kenya’s role as a regional ICT hub, citing the country’s robust undersea fiber optic infrastructure that supports high-speed and reliable connectivity. He expressed confidence that Kenya’s leadership and collaboration within the EAC would drive significant social and economic growth through digitalization.