Kenya Strengthens ICT–Devolution Partnership to Accelerate Digital Transformation
The discussions focused on ensuring that county governments have the digital infrastructure, institutional capacity and policy environment needed to participate fully in Kenya's growing digital economy.
Kenya’s State Department for ICT and Digital Economy and the State Department for Devolution have reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating inclusive digital transformation across the country’s 47 counties through closer collaboration on digital infrastructure, connectivity, digital skills and policy coordination.
The commitment was highlighted during a strategic meeting between John Kipchumba Tanui, Principal Secretary for the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, and Michael Lenasalon, Principal Secretary for Devolution.
The discussions focused on ensuring that county governments have the digital infrastructure, institutional capacity and policy environment needed to participate fully in Kenya’s growing digital economy. The two State Departments agreed that digital infrastructure has become a critical driver of economic growth, efficient public service delivery, job creation and inclusive development.
A key priority is the development of a harmonised framework for fibre infrastructure deployment. The initiative aims to establish a structured approach to wayleave charges in collaboration with county governments, balancing county revenue generation with the need to remove regulatory barriers that can delay broadband expansion. The proposed framework will be presented through the Intergovernmental Sector Forum on ICT as part of efforts to create a nationally coordinated digital ecosystem.
The partnership will also support digital learning through the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Programme (KDEAP), which is equipping more than 10,000 Junior Secondary Schools with smart boards and digital learning devices to help learners develop digital skills.
In addition, the government plans to expand Digital Hubs across the country, including through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) framework and partnerships with other public institutions. The hubs are intended to provide citizens with access to government services, digital skills training, innovation opportunities and business support.
The collaboration will further strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions by expanding connectivity, providing modern ICT equipment and enhancing technical support at facilities such as Baragoi TVET, with the aim of preparing young people with practical digital skills aligned with labour market needs.
The initiative forms part of Kenya’s broader strategy to ensure that digital transformation is driven at the county level, enabling local communities to benefit from improved connectivity, digital services and economic opportunities.
