8.0 INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

The Democratic Party of Kenya recognizes the important role that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays in economic development.. It facilitates fast movement of information and as a result improves productivity in public and private sectors. The ICT is recognized as an important generator of employment, cost saving, speedier communication and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The expansion of the sector has however not grown as expected since it is dependant on reforming of other sectors like financial, telecommunications and transport. Kenya is constrained by lack of an ICT policy; inadequate ICT skills, low adoption of technology and inadequate ICT awareness.

The ICT sector has been a contributory source of growth in some developing countries, and Kenya can develop the sector for export thus creating employment. The Democratic Party of Kenya in recognition of the importance of the sector will implement the following measures:

1. Implement the National ICT policy;

2. Promote ICT as a service industry with potential of sourcing employment;

3. Build capacities in schools, colleges and universities to teach ICT as a mandatory examinable subject;

4. Build capacities in our technical institutions for their development of ICT;

5. Enhance the use of e-Government in all Government departments;

6. Promote e-commerce for international trade as well as local trade;

7. Provide ICT services in the rural areas;

8. Promote acquisition, transfer and adoption of ICT technologies;

9. Encourage the Country’s cross-sector collaboration in ICT;

10. Make Kenya an ICT service provider in the Region.

11. Enhance ICT in healthcare delivery systems as it has an important contribution in decision making process

12. Introduce ICT in library technology and industrial trade