The government plans to digitize up to 80 percent of its services by the end of June this year.
The question is, are the intended users/ citizens of the same services digitally savvy?
As more government records and services go digital, there should be an equal push to boost digital literacy, especially in rural areas.
Digitizing records and pushing more services to digital is a very noble idea. But equally important, is directing more energies and resources to how ordinary citizens can monetize the ICT and the digital space.
Read:The World Bank to Support Kenya’s Digital Economy
This is what will create employment and actually deal with the menace of unemployment mostly among young people.
The government is doing its best to make people digitally literate and equip them with digital skills for optimal uptake of online opportunities. These noble steps should be accelerated.
With digital skills, citizens can adopt, use and monetize online technical, commercial and creative arts opportunities.
With the 2030 deadline for delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals fast approaching, identifying new strategies to achieve full digital inclusion has become a matter of utmost urgency if we are to have any hope of meeting our Global Goals.
This call means working more collaboratively to solve chronic gaps in rural access, access at home and at school, digital skills training, quality and speed of connection, and equal digital opportunities for marginalized groups including women and girls.
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The gap between individuals using the Internet and those with digital skills may mean that many may be using the Internet without being able to fully benefit from it.
Recently, the World Bank approved Kshs 52.1 billion financing to support Kenya’s digital economy.
This is the first phase of a program which will run from 2023-2028. It’s focused on expanding access to high-speed internet, improve the quality and delivery of education and selected government services, and build skills for the regional digital economy.
This is a very big boost to the country and its plans to advance digital entrepreneurship.
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