NAIROBI, Kenya – In a move to strengthen cybersecurity measures, the government will release the amended draft of the ICT Authority Bill, 2024 for another round of public hearings this month.
This move comes as the country grapples with rising cyber threats and aims to refine the Bill to better address these challenges.
The initial draft of the Bill, published for public comment in July last year, faced criticism for its approach to regulating the ICT industry, with opponents fearing it would stifle innovation by imposing stringent licensing and registration requirements on ICT companies and professionals.
However, ICT Authority CEO Stanley Kamanguya dismissed these concerns, stating that the Bill is intended to foster sector growth.
“The comments from the public were taken into consideration by the Committee and some clauses of the Bill amended for conformity,” Kamanguya said. “We want to assure the public that the ICTA Bill is fashioned as a catalyst for sector growth rather than stifling innovations.”
The revised Bill will undergo another round of validation by both public and private sectors before being presented to the Cabinet and the Attorney General for finalization.
Kamanguya emphasized that the Bill aims to formally establish the ICT Authority under an Act of Parliament, replacing the previous establishment under the State Corporations Act.
Kamanguya clarified that the ICT Authority Bill 2024 is not a rehash of the contentious ICT Practitioners Bill.
“The ICTA Bill does not in any way seek to regulate ICT practitioners but encourages responsible development and use of ICT tools and platforms especially in the wake of increased cyber threats,” he said.
According to the Communications Authority, between April and June 2024, Kenya faced over 1.1 billion cyber threats.
This alarming statistic underscores the urgency for regulatory reforms, including consolidating various cyber threat control units to bolster the country’s defense against such attacks.
The ICT Authority is pushing for the swift approval of the Critical Infrastructure Bill, which will establish a framework for safeguarding critical infrastructure, including the Optical Fibre Cables (OFC) network essential for national connectivity.
Kamanguya highlighted the challenges posed by vandalism and the destruction of infrastructure due to other utility installations.
He advocated for a policy on infrastructure sharing to maximize the use of public infrastructure and enhance connectivity, particularly in underserved areas.
In parallel, the ICT Authority is advancing its Digital Super Highway project, aimed at expanding the national fiber network, reducing internet costs, and enhancing e-government service delivery.
This initiative includes deploying 100,000 kilometers of fiber cable, installing 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, and establishing 1,450 digital village smart hubs.
The authority’s Digital Skills Programme has trained over 114,000 citizens in basic ICT skills and cybersecurity, with plans to equip 20 million Kenyans for the digital economy.
The Presidential DigiTalent Programme (PDTP) has also successfully trained nearly 3,000 ICT interns, many of whom have secured employment in the public sector.
The ICT Authority collaborates with universities such as JKUAT and DeKUT to address issues like e-waste and promote innovation.
Through these partnerships, the authority supports the rehabilitation of obsolete devices and provides platforms for innovators to connect with investors and access funding opportunities.
This move comes as the country grapples with rising cyber threats and aims to refine the Bill to better address these challenges.
The initial draft of the Bill, published for public comment in July last year, faced criticism for its approach to regulating the ICT industry, with opponents fearing it would stifle innovation by imposing stringent licensing and registration requirements on ICT companies and professionals.
However, ICT Authority CEO Stanley Kamanguya dismissed these concerns, stating that the Bill is intended to foster sector growth.
“The comments from the public were taken into consideration by the Committee and some clauses of the Bill amended for conformity,” Kamanguya said. “We want to assure the public that the ICTA Bill is fashioned as a catalyst for sector growth rather than stifling innovations.”
The revised Bill will undergo another round of validation by both public and private sectors before being presented to the Cabinet and the Attorney General for finalization.
Kamanguya emphasized that the Bill aims to formally establish the ICT Authority under an Act of Parliament, replacing the previous establishment under the State Corporations Act.
Kamanguya clarified that the ICT Authority Bill 2024 is not a rehash of the contentious ICT Practitioners Bill.
“The ICTA Bill does not in any way seek to regulate ICT practitioners but encourages responsible development and use of ICT tools and platforms especially in the wake of increased cyber threats,” he said.
According to the Communications Authority, between April and June 2024, Kenya faced over 1.1 billion cyber threats.
This alarming statistic underscores the urgency for regulatory reforms, including consolidating various cyber threat control units to bolster the country’s defense against such attacks.
The ICT Authority is pushing for the swift approval of the Critical Infrastructure Bill, which will establish a framework for safeguarding critical infrastructure, including the Optical Fibre Cables (OFC) network essential for national connectivity.
Kamanguya highlighted the challenges posed by vandalism and the destruction of infrastructure due to other utility installations.
He advocated for a policy on infrastructure sharing to maximize the use of public infrastructure and enhance connectivity, particularly in underserved areas.
In parallel, the ICT Authority is advancing its Digital Super Highway project, aimed at expanding the national fiber network, reducing internet costs, and enhancing e-government service delivery.
This initiative includes deploying 100,000 kilometers of fiber cable, installing 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, and establishing 1,450 digital village smart hubs.
The authority’s Digital Skills Programme has trained over 114,000 citizens in basic ICT skills and cybersecurity, with plans to equip 20 million Kenyans for the digital economy.
The Presidential DigiTalent Programme (PDTP) has also successfully trained nearly 3,000 ICT interns, many of whom have secured employment in the public sector.
The ICT Authority collaborates with universities such as JKUAT and DeKUT to address issues like e-waste and promote innovation.
Through these partnerships, the authority supports the rehabilitation of obsolete devices and provides platforms for innovators to connect with investors and access funding opportunities.
