The Ministry of Trade and Investment in conjunction with the Ministry of ICT and digital economy have jointly launched the Kenya’s e-commerce strategy.
Speaking during the event held at Radisson Blu, UpperHill, Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Eliud Owalo said that If effectively leveraged, the strategy has the potential to significantly accelerate economic and social development through diversification, job creation, and increased trade.
“The National E-commerce Strategy will give micro and small businesses, particularly those in rural areas and PWD (People With Disabilities) a wider market and source of supplies that will enable them to procure goods without traveling to a distributor,” the CS added.
Further, Owalo added that the government has also rolled out the National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI), an electronic system that facilitates the creation, storage, and assignment of digital certificates to individuals, firms, and state agencies.
“With the full commercialization of NPKI, it is envisaged that the electronic system will create a framework for protecting communications and stored information from unauthorized access and disclosure by addressing the fundamentals of cybersecurity – confidentiality, integrity, and authentication,” he added.
Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Rebecca Miano said the government plans to help digitize MSMEs to boost national productivity and transform the economy through capacity building .
“The Ministry aims to promote a safe and secure e commerce environment that will increase their domestic and export market capability with a multiplier effect on incomes and creating jobs for the youth,” said Miano.
Miano went on to say that she looks forward to future collaboration with sector stakeholders as the government endeavors to promote the development of a more inclusive e-commerce sector in Kenya.
The strategy aims at fostering a dynamic and tech-savvy business environment that capitalizes on modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics and 3D printing. Also in the plan there are other key focus areas that include, Motion pictures, biotechnology, Genomics and Nanotechnology.
