Kenya is positioning software as a strategic national asset through policy reforms, talent development, and investment in digital infrastructure, ahead of the inaugural Kenya Software Summit, to be held in Eldoret later this year.
Speaking during a pre-launch breakfast meeting for the summit in Nairobi, the Principal Secretary (PS) for ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, who read a keynote address on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, said the Government is committed to building a robust software ecosystem anchored in digital sovereignty and local innovation.
“Our forthcoming National Software Development Policy, will serve as the foundation for a dynamic and forward-looking software sector. Software is not just a tool but a strategic national asset that will drive public service delivery, employment, and efficiency,” he stated.
Making his remarks, Eng. Tanui outlined plans to institutionalize procurement reforms prioritizing secure, certified, and locally developed software.
Additionally, he announced the establishment of a Digital Public Infrastructure Registry to improve interoperability, avoid duplication, and maximize public value.
“Where Kenyan-built solutions meet the standard, the government will adopt them as a first principle,” he reiterated.
Highlighting the Kenya’s evolving tech landscape, Tanui noted that the country had already attracted global players such as Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Apple, which have set-up local training and development centres.
He pointed out that software exports, currently contributing approximately Sh130 billion annually, have the potential to rival diaspora remittances in foreign exchange earnings.
“This Summit is not just another convening; it is a call to action. The future of our economy lies in digital services, and software is the anchor,” he stressed, urging academia and industry to bridge the talent gap in emerging areas, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.
“The demand for cybersecurity experts alone globally stands at 3.5 million. If we prepare our youth well, this sector can unlock mass employment and wealth creation,” Eng. Tanui added.
Principal Secretary for Research, Science and Innovation, Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat, emphasized the need for a unified framework linking academia, government, and industry.
Prof. Shaukat reiterated that software development must be supported by research, innovation, and ethical standards.
“Kenya has over 300 active startups. What we need is an enabling policy environment and adequate funding to support them,” he said, adding that the government aims to raise research and development funding from 0.8% to 2% of Gross Domestic Product. (GDP.)
He pledged the full support of the National Research Fund and the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) to software innovators, noting the potential of software in transforming agriculture, health, and the blue economy.
“Artificial Intelligence can help us revolutionize cancer diagnosis, telemedicine, and education. We must not miss this moment,” Prof. Shaukat said.
The Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, Fikirini Jacobs, pledged his department’s full collaboration to ensure the Summit’s success and the broader national digital agenda.
“This initiative speaks directly to our vibrant, creative youth. We are committed to partnering with the ICT Ministry, to ensure the Summit empowers young people and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 17 on partnerships,” said PS Jacobs.
He further noted the blurred lines between youth innovation, the digital economy, and creative industries, stressing that young people stand at the intersection of all three.
The Software Summit, he added, complements ongoing National Youth Week activities, which will culminate in the celebration of International Youth Day on August 12.
The breakfast meeting brought together key players from academia, the private sector, and development partners, including representatives from Strathmore University, Equity Bank, and the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPRA), all lauded for their contributions to Kenya’s software ecosystem.
The Kenya Software Summit is part of the Government’s wider ambition under the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy pillars of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to create over one million digital jobs and promote inclusive growth nationwide.
By Joan Ogolla and Naif Rashid
