Kenya’s revamped ICT Draft Policy submitted to Cabinet for review

A revamped Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Draft Policy has been submitted to the Ministry of ICT for review before being presented to the Cabinet for approval.

According to MyGov Website, ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said  the Draft Policy was reviewed to incorporate issues of new and emerging technologies such as big data, over-the-top content (OTT) and Netflix – which are multimedia platforms that deliver audio and video over the Internet without the involvement of a multiple systems.

Mr Mucheru said the Draft Policy has been validated by stakeholders and will be forwarded to the Cabinet for approval, before it is made operational.

Speaking  during a meeting with members of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) at his Telposta Towers office yesterday, Mr Mucheru said he was impressed that  the Draft National ICT Policy 2016 has taken into account the Smart Africa initiative that aims to create a single digital market of more than one billion people.

“The policy covers infrastructure, applications and content creation. It will provide a framework to guide sustained ICT sector growth in the country over the  next five years,” he said.

On the ICT Protection Bill, KEPSA Chairman Michael Macharia said  the players in the Sector will meet in a fortnight to identify and agree on an independent body that would enforce self-regulation in the ICT industry in the country.

Mr Macharia called for a common approach to ICT issues by the private sector in order to streamline and promote quality services and products.  CS Mucheru said the ICT Bill that was sponsored by a private member was a surprise development in the industry that would have reversed ICT gains.

In the same meeting that Cabinet Secretary said KEPSA had been given the mandate to streamline structures of Entreprise Kenya.