The Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy (MoICT) in Kenya has officially launched its 2023 – 2027 Strategic Plan that outlines a roadmap towards realizing the ambitious goals set forth in Kenya Vision 2030, focusing on the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), in an event presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for ICT Eliud Owalo.

The Plan, which outlines the ministry’s priorities to transform Kenya into a digitally enabled society through policy, digital infrastructure, talent, innovation and technology development, aligns with key commitments such as the East African Community Vision 2050, African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Plan's mandate, according to Principal Secretary State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Edward Kisiang'ani in his foreword, calls for coordinating all strategies, programs, and activities in order to realize the four main BETA pillars: Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), Housing and Settlement, Health, and Agriculture.

“The strategic Plan seeks to strengthen innovation ecosystem and wider ICT adoption to increase productivity and competitiveness throughout the society and to create productive employment. Our plan articulates shared vision, mission, core values, strategic objectives, strategies, resource requirements, resource management and mobilization to realize effective implementation. This plan recognizes the strengths and opportunities for optimum exploitation of the sector’s potential. It also identifies weaknesses and threats, which can be turned to opportunities,” said the PS.

“This strategic plan sets out the areas where we must focus our efforts to deliver more effective communications and campaigns, work across organizational boundaries to innovate and embrace the opportunities presented by new technology, and speak to citizens with one voice. Among our priorities is economic transformation through increased digital job creation, inclusive growth and keeping the public informed about critical legislation and access to public services,” he added.

The Cabinet Secretary , during the launch, expressed his recognition of the ICT sector's contribution to Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), noting that it has improved e-government services, e-business, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, and digital skills, as well as increased the competitiveness of the nation's goods and services in the global marketplace. He continued by saying that the ministry has had a good effect on other economic sectors and governance, and that it has successfully contributed to regional and global economic integration, higher living standards, a reduction in the digital divide, and better resource management and use.

“During the 2023-2027 Medium Term Period, the government commits to provide an enabling business environment that enhances access to information and spawns a wide range of digitally enabled startups and investments by leading multinational technology companies. The notable strategies in the plan will be; Establishment of National Addressing system, Revitalization of PCK, KBC and KNA, roll out Broadband Connectivity to the ward level, Installation of Free Public Wi-Fi in public spaces and Digitalization of Government Services,” noted the CS.

The Strategic Plan has identified seven Key Result Areas with the corresponding strategic objectives and strategies for its effective implementation: Policy, Legal and Institutional Frameworks; Digital Superhighway, Broadcasting and Telecommunications Infrastructure; Digital Government Services and Products; Universal Access to Information; Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)/ IT Enabled Services (ITES) and Local Content Development; Governance, Finance and Human.