The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE) has today launched an ambitious Strategic Plan 2023-2027 with an aim to spur ICT to great heights of achievements.
Speaking during the launch that was held in Nairobi, MICDE Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Eliud Owalo stated that the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is an important milestone for the Ministry since it serves as the foremost policy blueprint and roadmap, that will guide the Ministry’s implementation of its activities, projects and programmes for a five-year period.
He reiterated that the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is the culmination of concerted efforts by the Ministry and key stakeholders in the ICT sector to ensure that priority programmes and projects in the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) are implemented as planned.
“This Plan ensures that the Ministry’s vision of “an Informed and Digitally-empowered Kenyan Society” is aligned to the Government’s Transformative Agenda, Kenya Vision 2030, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa Agenda 2063 and other National Government priorities,” the CS said.
CS Owalo further pointed out that the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 identifies Seven (7) Key Result Areas (KRAs) with corresponding strategic objectives and strategies for its effective implementation.
These KRAs include Policy, Legal and Institutional Frameworks; Digital Superhighway 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 Capital Development; and Cyber Security, Data Governance and Emerging Technologies.
He observed that the Plan takes cognizance that prioritization of projects and programmes is crucial towards eradicating poverty, creating jobs, increasing revenue collection, and improving the country’s foreign exchange balance for economic growth and development.
The CS informed that the Strategic Plan will act as a very important tool for monitoring the implementation of the Fourth Medium-Term Plan, and form the basis for setting targets for the annual work plans, performance contracts, as well as staff performance appraisal.
CS Owalo appealed for support and commitment from all internal and external stakeholders to ensure the success of the Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
In his address, the Principal Secretary, Broadcasting and Telecommunication, Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani noted that the main agenda of the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is to ensure that the Government Speaks in One Voice, to serve the people of Kenya and ultimately achieve key developments.
He emphasized on the importance of supporting and revamping national public institutions to achieve set core mandates, “the Policy in Government is that we must help our national institutions to operate by adequately availing the required resources. We must protect national institutions and give space for the private sector to operate freely.”
On his part, the Principal Secretary, ICT and the Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui acknowledged that the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 underpins the fact that programmes, projects and key activities are the basis for setting performance targets, as well as informing the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) process.
PS Tanui explained that the Plan has prioritized the development of enabling infrastructure to ease the cost of doing business and expressed optimism in its success.
“I have no reservation that the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 will be a catalyst towards the future direction for the ICT sector, as well as spurring Economic Growth and Transformation,” the PS remarked.
Present at the event were the Director-General, of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Mr David Mugonyi; Konza Technopolis CEO, Mr John Paul Okwiri; ICTA CEO Mr Stanley Kamanguya; Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board CEO, Ms Lillian Kimeto; Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) CEO, Mr Peter Wakoli; Ag. MD KBC, Mr Paul Macharia; Media Council of Kenya CEO Mr.
