(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
Ensure use of ICT in agricultural extension and advisory services so as to be able to share
information, enhance national food security and empower rural communities;
Encourage ICT infrastructure deployment across the country by mobile operators to enable
access to agriculture mobile applications mostly using mobile phones. Note: Mobile phones
are the most affordable forms of ICT even to a rural farmer;
Promote use of ICTs in agricultural research, development and innovation so as to be more
responsive to farmers’ needs;
Promote collaborations in agriculture using ICT among Kenya government agencies, private
sector, farmers and other international organizations such as F.A.O and ITU.
17.5 Fiscal Measures
The Government will introduce policy measures to stimulate increased investment and growth in the
ICT sector in order to create a favourable investment climate for the development of a globally
competitive ICT enabled and knowledge economy. The Government’s overall objective will be to:
Promote favourable fiscal policies to ensure that the country’s ICT products and services are globally
competitive by:
(a) Removal or reduction of excise duties on mobile money services and airtime to promote
financial inclusion and adoption of broadband access.
(b) Removal of taxes on broadband devices;
(c) Tax incentives to encourage local manufacture of ICT devices and infrastructure components;
(d) Removal of withholding tax on ICT training services;
(e) Support ICT initiatives by private sector through subsidies and/or tax incentives.
(f) Promote duty free zones and incubation centres to attract ICT investment; and
(g) Make budgetary provision to spur the growth of ICT.
17.6 Research and Development
The key rationale for marketing Kenya as an ICT destination is that previous focus of the ICT policy had
been on liberalization and infrastructure development, but that by 2007 there was infrastructure yet
the level of innovative usage had not been created. Consequently, the Government’s focus will shift
to support initiatives aimed at positioning Kenya as a preferred ICT destination of choice in the region
by:(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
Promoting ICT application research to address each policy priority area in the development
sector;
Revamping ICT institutions to market the country as a preferred ICT destination and to
facilitate the sharing of information;
Promoting and encouraging Research and Development (R&D) in ICT;
Encourage industry to invest adequately in R&D to promote local industrial growth and
hasten technology transfer;
Promote and encourage transfer of technology between Kenya and international institutions
and experts and fund the transfer of technology in conjunction with voluntary stakeholders.
Encourage the development of and stimulate the growth of a market for local ICT products
and services;
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