KENYA

STATEMENT BY His Excellency MUTAHI KAGWE
MINISTER FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference
Honourable Ministers
Your Excellencies the Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Heads of Delegations
The Secretary General of the ITU
The Directors of the ITU Bureaux
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen

Thank you for the honour of allowing me to greet the distinguished delegates and participants at this seventeenth Plenipotentiary Conference of the ITU in the historic and enchanting city of Antalya. It’s a great privilege for me and my delegation.

May I on behalf of my delegation express our profound gratitude to the Government and people of the Republic of Turkey for the warm hospitality extended to us since our arrival in this splendid city.

Mr. Chairman, Today the communications sector is the fastest growing industry in Kenya’s economy. This is the result of a robust and vibrant policy and regulatory framework that has not only increased investment in the sector, but also guaranteed provision of quality and affordable services to consumers. This policy framework is dynamic and responsive to a fast and ever-changing technological environment.

The Kenyan ICT sector is now fully liberalised with two- and soon to be four- Mobile Operators, three International Gateways, 19 Local Loop Operators, 20 Public Data Network Operators, and 51 Internet Service Providers, among other services. It is this liberalised environment that we are seeing the attendant benefits of. However, at a penetration of only 20 per cent, huge opportunities still exist for investments in ICT in Kenya.

Further, Mr. Chairman, the Kenya Government is in the process of privatising (Telkom Kenya) the state-owned telecommunications company to inject expertise to facilitate further growth in the organization.

We are taking these strides concurrently with the development of a nationwide broadband optical fibre infrastructure. These digital arteries will enable faster, reliable and cost-effective transmission of data and voice services to all parts of the world from any part of Kenya. The Kenya Government’s involvement in an otherwise private sector domain is in recognition that fibre cable provision is both an end in itself, but also, and more important, a means to the end.

Mr. Chairman, we believe that ITU will continue to transform itself to face up to all challenges brought about by the new revolution in communication. Kenya remains a committed member of the ITU and would be honored to serve on the Council in the forthcoming term. We will continue to dedicate our resources and expertise in order to enhance ITU’s efforts to develop into a true global think tank and data base for policy makers, regulators, investors, and consumers of improved communication services. Indeed, the task ahead for us is to continue making ITU relevant to its membership and the world at large at all times.

As we do so, it is incumbent upon us to remain sensitive to the implications of multiple disparities between the rich and the poor, between rural and urban populations as well as within grass root communities. Indeed, we require concerted efforts to work together at national, regional and international levels, and address the disparities between developed and developing world. In Kenya we are committed to this course. The challenges we face in achieving this are enormous, but our vision is firm.

Mr. Chairman, let us look into the future. Let us ask ourselves where ITU will be in 30, 40, 50 years from now and what role we will be playing. In short let us be visionary. The wider objective of technological advancement must surely be to make this global village better for all its inhabitants. Let ICT be a catalyst for poverty eradication, increased human dignity and a more peaceful world.

Mr. Chairman, I thank you and wish you and all ITU Conference delegates Godspeed.