NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the digital divide and undermining technological exclusivity in homes, schools, villages, and counties.
Y News understands that the Internet is more than just a means of communication in today’s globally interconnected society; it is the cornerstone of social progress, economic expansion, and creativity.
Using the Internet’s potential is convenient for a nation like Kenya, where business and innovation flourish, but it is also a vital source of economic growth.
Against this backdrop, President William Ruto observed that the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda prioritises digital transformation as a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth.
“This is why we are undertaking an ambitious expansion of our national digital infrastructure by deploying a fibre optic network to connect over 74,000 public institutions and establish 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots because digital transformation is a critical enabler in creating opportunities across all sectors,” said the president in his Jamhuri Day speech.
How President William Ruto’s government plans to use digital transformation
President Ruto’s ruling Kenya Kwanza administration intends to use this infrastructure to extend Internet connectivity to 8.5 million homes and businesses and eliminate the digital divide, undermining technological inclusivity in homes, schools, villages, and counties.
Y News understands that Kenya’s Digital Superhighway is a major initiative to enhance its broadband infrastructure, which is crucial for its development under the Kenya Kwanza plan.
The project involves expanding fibre-optic connectivity, including six submarine cables and 9,000 kilometres of terrestrial fibre-optic cables, ensuring extensive nationwide coverage.
Meanwhile, President Ruto affirmed the significant progress already made, accelerating due to the digitisation of government services.
“Through the e-Citizen portal, we have digitised 20,855 government services, streamlining public service delivery, enhancing transparency and efficiency, eliminating opportunities for corruption, and increasing the visibility and mobilisation of public revenues,” he said.
Why Kenya Kwanza’s new digital transformation initiative is a game changer
The head of state observed that the transformative power of this single initiative to improve citizen experience with public services and enhance the government’s ability to manage public resources effectively highlights the immense value of digital transformation.
“Additionally, our digital transformation strategy significantly contributes to skills development and job creation. For example, Ajira Digital and Jitume Digital are advancing our vision to equip 20 million citizens with ICT skills, fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing inclusive digital literacy. In other words, an additional 20 million Kenyans are being prepared for high productivity in the digital economy,” explained the president.
President Ruto further said that his administration has also adopted integrating creative industry courses into technical and vocational colleges as a reliable mechanism for building a skilled workforce.
“These robust measures form the foundation of our strategy to promote the emergence of a fully fledged digital economy, leveraging Kenya’s position as a regional hub for software development and digital exports,” said the head of state.
The president reiterated that these initiatives are supported by key interventions, such as establishing institutional and incentive frameworks to promote investments, foster collaborations, and encourage the transfer of digital technologies, with a particular focus on AI and blockchain.
“Through these efforts, we are empowering local digital innovators and tech entrepreneurs to drive economic diversification and resilience,” he added.
