WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN: Wisconsin’s high-tech sector could help the country move forward.
Kenya wants to become a major digital hub in East Africa.
The government is proposing the Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022-2032 as a way to advance the use of technology and grow the nation’s economy.
The master plan lists four main pillars: building digital infrastructure, expanding digital services and data management, investing in digital skills capacity and workforce development, and employing digital innovation in entrepreneurship.
Specific goals include:
• Laying 100,000 kilometers (62,100 miles) of fiber optic cable
• Installing 25,000 hot spots in public places
• Digitizing government records and automating government systems
• Training 300,000 public employees and 350,000 teachers in digital skills
President Uhuru Kenyatta says the digital plan will help Kenya achieve its primary, overall objectives: food security, affordable housing, manufacturing, and affordable health care.
For the 2022-23 fiscal year, Kenya’s national budget designates $12 million for information, communication, and technology infrastructure. That includes funds to accelerate the development of the Konza Technopolis, a key element of the country’s Vision 2030 economic development plan.
Konza Technopolis, designated to be built south of Nairobi, has been dubbed Africa’s Silicon Savannah. It is intended to be a technology-forward smart city that is expected to create 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, and will feature a university, science and tech area, offices, and homes.
Starlink began operating in Kenya in July 2023 with the intention of bringing high-speed internet to rural areas.
According to DataReportal, Kenya had 22.7 million internet users at the beginning of 2024, or about 41% of the population, as well as 13 million social media users, and 66 million cellular phone connections.
As Kenya seeks to expand digital access, Wisconsin technology companies could supply their services and expertise.
