Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are a core pillar in the Kenyan government’s strategy for socioeconomic advancement.
In the previous fiscal year (2023/2024), the government allocated approximately $108.4 million to the ICT sector.
Increased Investment in ICT Projects
For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the Kenyan government has earmarked a substantial budget of $125.3 million for ICT projects. This announcement made by Finance Minister Njuguna Ndung’u was during his budget speech to Parliament last week.
Key Areas of Investment
The budget allocation includes $8.5 million for shared government services, $5.4 million for the digital superhighway, $17.7 million for the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, $11.5 million for the first phase of horizontal infrastructure at Konza Technopolis City, and $40 million for the Konza data center and smart city facilities.
Additionally, $21.6 million has been allocated to the Digital Economy Acceleration Project, along with another $21.6 million for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the last-mile county connectivity network.
Alignment with Broader ICT Goals
The 2024/2025 ICT budget represents a significant increase compared to the $108.4 million allocated in the previous year. This initiative aligns with the government’s ambition to develop and leverage ICT to drive socioeconomic progress in Kenya.
In April 2023, the World Bank committed $390 million to support the implementation of the first phase of Kenya’s Digital Economy Acceleration Project.
Furthermore, the Kenyan Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy has expressed a need for 456 billion shillings ($3.5 billion) to implement its strategic plan for 2023-2027.
Driving Economic Transformation
“Investments in digital superhighways and the creative economy continue to play a crucial role in enabling the government to achieve the goals of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda through increased productivity and competitiveness,” stated Minister Ndung’u.