CS Owalo unveils plans for digital transformation in his one-year status report
While releasing the one-year status report on his ministry, Cabinet Secretary of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, outlined the government’s ambitious plans to revolutionize Kenya’s digital landscape.
Highlighting several key initiatives, Owalo discussed the implementation of free Wi-Fi hotspots, developing digital skills, digitising government services, and the importance of digital identity.
Owalo revealed the government’s target of establishing 25,000 hotspots, with over 420 already operational in markets and bus stops nationwide.
The first-time Cabinet Secretary emphasized the creation of 1 million jobs through the establishment of 1450 digital hubs. While 190 hubs are already functional, through the ministry, the government aims to accelerate the process by partnering with Members of Parliament through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to identify suitable locations for the remaining hubs.
Owalo also announced significant developments for the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) saying a state-of-the-art system was on the horizon, with a tendering process already set in motion, totalling Sh170 million.
“I want to assure Kenyans that the data held by gov’t on their behalf is secure and the incident did not lead to any infringement of personal data of Kenyans,” the ICT Cabinet Secretary also denied that the ecitizen portal was hacked, stating that, it was instead an attempt to adulterate the system.
“We’ve got a policy that any foreign investors have to give out 30% of the ICT FDI’s in equity. We cannot continue like this, because no Kenyan has taken up this meaning its not been useful. It’s only been tenderpreneurs who take advantage of this to be listed as shareholders on paper. We can’t continue like this, we’ve removed this and it will be gazetted soon”