2. Facilitate equitable access to public
services, knowledge and information for
development and self-actualisation
3. Promote
public
participation
development by all citizens
in
4. Promote Kiswahili, the national language of
Kenya
5. Promote the equitable treatment of
Kiswahili and English, the official languages
of Kenya
6. Promote and develop the use of community
languages, Kenyan Sign Language, Braille
and other communication formats and
technologies accessible to persons with
disabilities
7. Generate substantial wealth by harnessing
Kenya’s multilingualism and the creation of
innovative linguistic technologies with a
reach beyond Kenya’s borders
8. Help Kenya to become the African media
giant by creatively using her linguistic
facility in broadcasting
9. Initiate
and
multilingualism
communities
sustain
with
dialogue
on
all
language
In support of this language policy, the
government will:
1. Expound the language policy in a separate
policy statement
2. Draft legislation necessary for the full
implementation of the policy
Open Source Software:
Efficient use of public resources is a key
consideration in government expenditure and
procurement. The Government of Kenya
encourages the use of and already uses open
source software and systems for many
purposes, this policy formalises the position of
the government on open source software.
Where an open source alternative exists to
proprietary software, the government shall
choose the open source solution. All
commissioned software development by the
government shall be delivered with the source
code and made publicly available for use by any
government agency that needs similar or close
functionality. The government will maintain
Ministry of ICT, Kenya
and publish a guide for use by government
agencies listing solutions available, and
publishing the source code of all government
procured software.
Regional Integration of the ICT Ecosystem
As a member state of the East African
Community (EAC) and a signatory to the East
African Common Market Protocol, the
Government is committed to implement
policies and programmes to promote regional
integration. The Government will remain
proactive in exploring new areas of
collaboration with EAC member states on ICT
policy and regulatory issues and related
matters that serve to advance the objectives of
the EAC Common Market Protocol for the
benefit of the citizens of the East African region.
Specifically but not exclusively, this policy
mandates that the government:
1. Secure
cross
border
broadband
connectivity to enhance cross border trade
in goods and services;
2. Promote
high
speed
broadband
connectivity between the Capital and major
cities of the East African Community,
COMESA and Africa to facilitate electronic
transactions between the African Union
Member States;
3. Harmonise ICT policy, legal and regulatory
frameworks with the other East African
Community member states;
4. Ensure universal, fair and open access to
reliable
and
affordable
broadband
infrastructure by all citizens and for other
EAC member states that are landlocked; and
5. Promote Inclusion of ICTs as components of
all on-going and upcoming regional
projects.
Policy, Legal and Regulatory Framework
In order to fully implement this policy it is will
be necessary to review the legal, institutional
and regulatory framework to align with this
policy. The Government will:
1. Ensure policy, legal, regulatory and
institutional framework is reviewed and
amended to enable implementation of the
policy;
2. Ensure the legislation provides for the
creation of institutions that will implement
the requirements of this policy;
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November-2019