2 VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS Vision A prosperous and competitive ICT-driven Kenyan society. Mission To improve the livelihoods of Kenyans by ensuring the availability of accessible, efficient, reliable, affordable and secure ICT services. 3 PREAMBLE This Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy has been formulated through the process of public consultations. The Policy is premised on the following principles: 1. ICT is a developmental tool that should be widely accessible and utilized by the general population; 2. There will be a technology neutral approach in the adoption and regulation of ICT systems and services in the promotion of competition; 3. Innovation will be promoted for the benefit of consumers, producers and service providers while at the same time protecting the interest of innovators; and 4. Investing in human resource development and capacity building will also be prioritised. The ICT Regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) will be expected to adopt and implement the highest standards of procedural efficiency, transparency and responsiveness to technological changes. Consideration was given to the review of the current legislative framework within the context of convergence to identify any inadequacies that may hamper effective regulation. As part of the legislative review it has been established that the deployment of ICT networks capable of delivering a range of services raises critical issues related to the quality of service and protection of personal information. In this context, legislative provision will be made inter alia to eschew minimum quality of service standards; the publishing of industry performance reports intervention of the ICT Regulator and creation of a National Cyber Security Agency. 4 4.1 INTRODUCTION ICT and Vision 2030 The Kenya Vision 2030 aims to provide the national long-term development blue-print to create a globally competitive and prosperous nation, transforming Kenya into a newly industrializing, middleincome country providing a high quality of life to all its citizens by 2030 in a clean and secure environment. Vision 2030 three pillars, namely the Economic, Social and Political are anchored on macroeconomic stability; continuity in governance reforms; enhanced equity and wealth creation opportunities for the poor. The Economic Pillar which captures the expectations of the ICT market seeks to improve the prosperity of all regions of the country and all Kenyans by achieving a 10% GDP growth rate by 2017. 8