Unlocking Kenya’s Digital Potential: Exploring the Digital Superhighway and Creative

On Tuesday, 11th July 2023, we hosted a policy symposium on the Kenya Superhighway and Creative Economy in partnership with the International Budget Partnership, an event brought together digital experts from the public and private sectors. This event provided a platform to discuss various policy issues related to data governance, digital tax, e-commerce, digitization of public services, and job creation in the digital creative sector.

Giving his keynote speech, Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, MBS, Principal Secretary of the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, delivered a keynote speech where he emphasized six key sectors that are expected to have a significant impact on the digital economy. These sectors include: agriculture, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives, housing, healthcare, the digital superhighway, and the creative economy. He further reiterated the government’s commitment to spur the digital economy. “The government plans to create 1450 digital hubs that will act as venues to spur digital development. Moreover, up to 5000 government services have been digitized and they hope to set up 25000 free public Wi-Fi in order to expose Kenyans to digital opportunities and stimulate e-commerce,”he noted

Kui Kinyanjui, an Executive Fellow, at the Strathmore University Institute of Public Policy and Governance highlighted several opportunities in the digital space for Kenyan youth. She pointed out that the main challenge being that artists are not fully aware of their rights and therefore, are exploited.

On of the things that stood out from all the speakers and panelist was that collaboration with Curriculum Based Learning (CBC) will play a major role in sensitizing people on the jobs that they can create for themselves through the creative sector online and prepare them adequately on how to navigate and protect themselves in those spaces.

The event provided valuable insights and opportunities for stakeholders to collaborate on strategies and policies to leverage the digital economy for the benefit of the country and its citizens.

Par Juliet Hinga