Nairobi: The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Communication, Information, and Innovation, chaired by John Kiarie, convened with the Ministry of Information, Communications, and The Digital Economy and its various Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to review the Budget Estimates for the 2026/2027 Financial Year. During the meeting, Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo Gitau presented the Ministry’s budget, highlighting key priorities and achievements for the upcoming Financial Year.
According to Kenya News Agency, the discussion focused on advancing the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), especially under the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy pillars. The session addressed fiscal adjustments aimed at safeguarding Kenya’s digital transformation initiatives. Concerns were raised about proposed funding reductions potentially slowing vital infrastructure projects and compromising government communication systems.
The Committee stressed the necessity of robust allocations for strategic programmes within the BETA framework. ‘We are talking about programmes that are central to the country’s future, yet they are being reduced mechanically because of budgeting processes,’ remarked Chairperson John Kiarie. CS Kabogo acknowledged resource constraints, stating the limitations on programme implementation due to reduced funding.
The Ministry outlined measures to keep initiatives operational through the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications and the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, collaborating with Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) such as the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the ICT Authority (ICTA), Konza Technopolis, and others. Challenges with reduced external financing affecting flagship programmes like the Last Mile County Connectivity Project and the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project were discussed.
To address connectivity gaps, CS Kabogo announced the deployment of satellite connectivity in areas where terrestrial connectivity is challenging. PS Tanui of the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy highlighted the issue of absorption in externally funded projects, indicating that implementation bottlenecks are being resolved to accelerate progress.
Deliberations also focused on enhancing government communication to ensure clear, unified public messaging. The strategic roles of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and the Kenya News Agency (KNA) were prioritized for national cohesion and civic education. Joyce Otieno Bensouda supported the modernization of KBC, emphasizing the importance of a public broadcaster that instills pride among Kenyans.
The budget review included a proposed allocation for advanced AI-powered media monitoring systems to track digital trends and counter misinformation. Lawmakers stressed the need for clear legislative guidelines before deploying such technologies, with Engineer Mark Nyamita highlighting the importance of understanding these systems’ roles and integrations.
The session addressed constituency Digital Innovation Hubs’ completion timelines, linking progress to technical human resource deployment. Bensouda noted the potential of grassroots creative infrastructure like Studio Mashinani for youth empowerment. Structured training programs for bloggers and content creators were discussed to promote responsible digital citizenship.
In conclusion, institutional updates highlighted the need for continued support in areas like cybersecurity and national records preservation. Chairperson Kiarie emphasized the committee’s role in shaping the digital economy’s future through budget scrutiny. PS Isaboke urged the committee to consider funding foundational pillars crucial for advancing the digital agenda.
