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REPUBLIC OF KENYA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
CLOSING REMARKS BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF INFORMATION,
COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY MR. JOSEPH TIAMPATI DURING THE CLOSING
CEREMONY OF THE CONNECTED KENYA SUMMIT AT LEISURE LODGE ON WEDNESDAY
16TH APRIL 2014.

Distinguished Guests
Colleagues from the Ministry and ICT Authority
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Afternoon
First I take this opportunity to commend each one of you for your participation in
deliberations that have occurred here in the last two days. You have ensured the
success of the 2014 ICT summit by providing great insight and transformative ideas
that will help us deliver in on the ICT agenda for Kenya. The panel discussions and
presentations have engaged us closely and have informed us on the key issues in ICT
today. The evening fireside chats were forums for candid issues that also provided
networking opportunities. Ladies and gentleman, it is my sincere hope that the
dialogue that has ensued in the last two days continues amongst us.
To our sponsors I cannot say thank you enough, to our speakers and facilitators you
have engaged us in intellectual cross cutting discussions that have provided great
policy insights. To our esteemed delegates from both the private and public sector,
thank you for your commitment to this event. I am pleased to note that spirit of
collaboration between the national and county governments and the public sector in
pushing forward the digital transformation agenda of Kenya.

Ladies and Gentlemen, as we move forward I cannot overemphasize the need to push
our thinking from a connected Kenya to a connected East Africa.

Our countries

developmental agenda demands that we think beyond our national borders into an
integrated East African community. ICT is crucial in promoting an integrated East
Africa.
1. In line with this, we will continue to offer technical support to our neighbor
South Sudan as they look to setting up necessary infrastructure in the Telekom
industry starting with the office of the regulator. We have achieved a lot from
this years deliberations including the launch of the National ICT Masterplan,
which we have renamed Smart Kenya Master plan. In the next year we commit
to start delivery on the 16 projects listed in the plan. All these projects will
require implementation and monitoring and we invite you our stakeholders to
become our partners in delivering these projects. We commit to have an
update on all projects in the next summit in 2015.
2. Second we commit to develop a digital policy to guide proper data utilization in
government for informed decision making. The document will be a reference
point to understand implications of emerging technologies such as Social
media, mobile and cloud.
3. Third we commit to fast track draft bills and other pending, regulations to
enhance ICT development. A key commitment is to engage in dialogue that will
advise on PPP framework for engagement in ICT projects.
We will ensure proper accountability measures that will monitor ongoing projects and
again we invite the private sector to partner with us in not only implementation but
also in monitoring. To this end we suggest a quarterly caucus of private and public
stakeholders to guide this process.
4. Fourth we commit to continued partnership between my office, ICTA and the
county government in support and alignment of the national Smart Kenya
Master plan. Success of county ICT frameworks is crucial and we all need to
pull together.

In closing it is my sincere hope that the discussions and information shared at this
forum will help us carry on innovative and transformative discussions to implement
Kenyas digital agenda. I also hope that we have been able to build healthy networks
for innovative partnership for our common goals. To our gracious sponsors, delegates
and speakers thank you for making the Connected 2014 summit a success and I hope
to see you next year at the Connected East Africa conference. I wish you all a
pleasant journey back.

God bless Kenya.