KICTANet has announced the formation of seven tech policy working groups tasked with offering contributions and critique on the Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Sectoral Working Group (SWG) Draft Report developed by the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy’s (MoICDE) Sector Working Group on critical policy, legislative, and regulatory reforms within the Kenyan ICT sector.

The SWG was commissioned in September 2023. The SWG is tasked with creating adaptable frameworks to achieve the government’s digitalisation goals and bolster the digital economy’s contribution to the GDP over the next two decades. 

The SWG’s objectives involve evaluating the ICT and digital economy sector’s efficacy, stability, and structure and proposing measures to foster agility, innovation, and value creation. It is also reviewing existing policies, legislative frameworks, institutional structures, and administrative protocols and will recommend reforms.

This initiative will contribute to updating ICT laws through input to the  Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy’s (MoICDE)  Sector Working Group.

KICTANet’s working groups will contribute to this process by bringing together diverse expertise from key stakeholders across various thematic areas. From over 130  applicants, 7 experts from the civil society, academia and private sector were selected to spearhead the consolidation of   KICTANet’s input on the seven thematic areas.

Thematic Working Groups and Leads

• Digital Infrastructure, Telecommunications and Services: Mr Twahir Hussein Kassim (Dunia Moja Community Network);
• Software and Software Services: Mr Kelvin Kariuki Mwangi (Multimedia University of Kenya);
• Data Governance and Emerging Technologies: Ms Grace Mutung’u  (Data Privacy and Governance Society of Kenya);
• Cybersecurity: Mr Njoroge Kinyanjui (Kenya CyberSecurity and Forensics Association)
• Innovation, Enterprises, Digital Talent and Jobs: Dr. Ehud Gachugu (Kenya Private Sector Alliance);
• Postal, Courier and E-commerce: Mr Daniel Maingi (Kenya Food Alliance) and
• Media, Broadcasting, PR and Communications: Dr. Wambui Wamunyu (Daystar University).

KICTANet believes these working groups will foster robust and inclusive dialogue between stakeholders and the government, ultimately leading to a more robust, future-proof ICT ecosystem in Kenya.

“Thank you to the 130 people who responded to the call regarding the Working Group on Policy, Legislative, and Regulatory Reforms in the ICT Sector. We truly appreciate your interest and willingness to volunteer in the discussions on digital infrastructure, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and other thematic areas. We look forward to your valuable insights, which will undoubtedly enrich the recommendations aimed at shaping the future of the ICT sector in our Country,” Dr Grace Githaiga, CEO of KICTANet, announced.