ICT POLICY AND STRATEGIES: TOWARDS E-GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT-THE CASE OF EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND KENYA

Abstract

The answers to the research question as to how ICT policy and e-strategy can spur goodgovernance and sustainable development in Kenya and the EAC Sub-region have beenarticulated in this thesis by presenting both developed generic ICT policy statements andspecific ones matching Kenya and EAC. This thesis strongly argues that ICT policy ande-strategy not charity, shall determine whether new technologies become tools for goodgovernance and sustainable development. It challenges governments to take lead inincubating new ICT applications if faster and sustainable adoption of the technology isexpected.The surveys conducted at ALGAK and in Bungoma district in Kenya revealed that localauthorities were neither informed nor involved in the ongoing national e-governmentimplementation. Also exposed by research is the anecdotal evidence that the egovernmentrollout was being implemented using a top-down approach. This thesisargues the pros and cons of such action and proposes a suitable model based on research.This thesis presents the observation that the Kenyan laws and regulations relating to ICThad five key characteristics that made them inadequate. The probable basis for theidentified characteristics is cited, followed by the accompanying recommendations of theappropriate legal and regulatory reforms needed in order to create an enablingenvironment in Kenya.Trends in ICT indicators such as mobile phone subscribers, mobile communicationsrevenue, annual telecommunication investment and International bandwidth of OECD,COMESA and EAC countries have been studied and discussed.A generic and holistic e-strategy conceptual framework named Multi-Layered andNetworked MuL_Net is described. The MuL_Net model has been partially tested and theresults are presented.The thesis also discusses the findings to the question as to whether the Kenya ICT policyformulation process was informed by the existing local ICT initiatives and if any linkagesexisted between them.