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ICT Stakeholders Discuss the Review of the Connected Kenya ICT Master Plan(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) has held a public consultation forum on the Connected Kenya ICT Master plan 2017. The review master plan that is anchored on e-government services, ICT as driver of economy and developing ICT business, hopes to create 180,000 direct jobs and contribute 8 per cent of the GDP. The document is a product of various master plans from other countries and documents from both private and public institutions and is also benchmarked on various development indices with other developed and developing countries. The master plan seeks to review the former Connected Kenya master plan launched last year and aligns itself with the Jubilee government's manifesto as well as new realities such as devolved governments and new legislation including the Science, Technology and Innovation Act 2013, TIVET Act 2013 and Universities Act 2012. On developing the ICT human resource in the country, the master plan focuses on developing high end skills, an ICT ready workforce, increasing digital literacy and to strengthen ICT authority's leadership capacity. To achieve its objectives, the government has four projects in waiting such as putting up five centers of excellence, creating and funding intensive structured training and attachment, attracting global universities among first companies to occupy Konza Technopolis and development of massive online open courses (MOOCs). The second pillar is e-government services that will provide the integrated infrastructure backbone required to enable cost effective delivery of ICT products and services to Kenyans. E-government according to the master plan will ensure provision of e-Government information and services as key to improving productivity, efficiency, effectiveness and governance in all key sectors. ICT as a Driver of Industry aims at transforming key economic sectors to significantly increase productivity, global competitiveness and growth. This pillar the master plan says will significally automate processes in the value chain and lead to an overall 1.5 per cent contribution to the GDP. Related stories Kenya launches National ICT Master Plan 2017, aims to connect all Kenya launches National Cyber Security Strategy and Master Plan IBM backs development of Kenyan e-voting master plan Kenya launches National ICT Master Plan Copyright CIO East Africa. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |