For every 10,000 persons there are some 600, 2500 and 3000 in Asia, the America and Europe respectively.
Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communication statistics on the country’s accessibilities indicate that by September 2004 there were some 240,000 fixed telephone line subscribers and 2.8 million cellular mobile subscribers. Roughly this means that 0.75 per hundred inhabitants for fixed and 9.75 per hundred inhabitants for mobile phones. The world average stands at 19 and 21 per hundred respectively. Again compared to several African countries notably, Tunisia, Egypt and South Africa it is way below. By April of the same year there 73 registered Internet service providers (ISPs) 16 of which are active. In the same vein there are approximately 1,030,000 users and over 1000 cyber cafes and telefax bureaus. As of January 2004, there were some 520,000 personal computers in active use. This translates to 1.6 computers per 100 people. While in the international internet bandwidth Kenya is ranked higher in East Africa, it is way below Tunisia, South Africa and Algeria. Geographically speaking Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) radio and television coverage stands at 90% and 50% of the Kenya land mass respectively. To date 27 FM stations and 16 television stations have been licensed by the state regulator, Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), (whose board of directors were shown the door early this week).

Looked under a backdrop of a population going upwards of 30 million, Kenya has a long way to go before it achieves universal access. This is not difficult however; it is simply a question of commitment.

With a majority of the Kenyan populace residing in the rural areas where power supply is erratic, unreliable and absent most of the time, the issue of access and infrastructure is the key to bridging the digital divide. Indeed the issue of universal access is not narrowed to access to telephones. Universal access as a concept means being able to access efficient and affordable ICT services ranging from the Internet, telemedicine, public phones and affordable tariffs among other related needs. Put simply communication within a walking distance. This issue has been at the core of the newly proposed draft ICT policy for Kenya. On Access the 65-page draft reckons:
“Access to ICT services is limited to a few major towns leaving out the rural areas of the country where the bulk of the population reside. The rapidly changing information society, characterized by technological advances in ICT further exacerbates the problem of access in Kenya. The national ICT policy recognizes the ICT needs of the rural areas of the country and those of under served urban areas to ensure universal access and to reduce the digital divide among Kenyans. In providing universal access, the following challenges will be addressed: increasing ICT capacity in terms of penetration and bandwidth services; encouraging partnerships among public, private and community sectors at all levels in support of universal access initiatives; creating incentives for service providers to deploy services in rural and underserved areas as well as disadvantaged groups; establishing a Universal Service Fund; promoting training in ICT in order to create a critical mass of ICT consumers and experts; bringing awareness of benefits of ICT to the public; and developing knowledge sharing networks at grassroots level; ensuring that communication services which are used by the majority, and are essential for full social and economic inclusion, are made available to everybody, at an affordable price; ensuring that relevant education and training programmes allow everyone to maximize the opportunities afforded by info-communications technologies to improve the quality of their lives and to enhance their work prospects.”

Last year the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) unveiled a Kshs 17 million study venture, whose objective was to set up a policy and strategy for universal access to information and telecommunication needs for the country. Also embedded in the key objectives of this study was the finding of appropriate means to benefit Kenya’s rural areas. Away from the study the Government of Kenya went ahead and initiated a comprehensive E-government strategy, which will cost a cool Kshs. 3 billion, and is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

Currently there are 920 post office outlets countrywide, meaning that one post office serves 36,000 inhabitants.

In order to alter this state of affairs and increase universal access the government plans to improve the teledensity in rural areas from the current 0.16 lines to 5 lines per 100 inhabitants; improve the teledensity in urban areas from the current 4 lines to 20 lines per 100 inhabitants; increase the number of mobile subscribers from 3 million to 10 million; expand the current international internet bandwidth of 35Mbps to 1Gbps; establish internet access nodes at all districts and local exchange areas; increase access to free-to-air radio services to 98% (from the current 90%) and free-to-air television broadcasting services to 80% (an increase of 30%)and ensure that 23,000 inhabitants are being served by one post office. All these are to be done by the year 2015. By 2007 the all secondary schools and tertiary institutions will have Internet access.

These goals appear high-sounding however the government has developed a road map to actualize its dreams. It is all detailed in the yet-to-be agreed Draft National ICT Policy. The draft policy notes:

“The government expects the private sector to play an important role in meeting the universal access targets through increased investments. Inorder to promote investments in areas deemed to be un-economic, the government will consider giving necessary incentives to the investor. A universal Service fund for the ICT sector will be set up to complement private sector initiatives towards meeting universal access targets. The purpose of the fund will be to subsidize the cost of ICT infrastructure rollout and expansion to un-served and underserved areas by operators in the sector. The fund will be financed by the operators providing `services in the various market segments of the ICT sector. Efforts will also be made to identify and mobilize resources from other sources to complement the contribution of the private sector and the operators. Telecommunication operators will be expected to honour universal service obligations stated in their licences. In order to finance universal postal service operations the government will revitalize the Postal Corporation of Kenya. In the area of broadcasting, the universal public broadcaster will operate commercially with appropriate subventions in areas where operations are deemed to be uneconomical.”

This is not all that is contained in the draft policy. Proposed in the bill is abolishment of additional fees and levies required for the construction of towers, poles, microwave, GSM duct base stations, ducts and other related installations, which could impede right-of-way clearances to all service providers thus affecting access provision.

The high-sounding draft policy continues:

“Measures will be put in place to encourage the provision of infrastructure for access to local, national and international information resources. The aim will be to provide sufficient Internet capacity for schools, colleges, and businesses; and to provide a reliable and secure internet infrastructure. A nationwide network consisting of fibre optic, satellite and terrestrial radio communication networks will be established.”

To this end the government envisages co-opting the immense capacities of the Kenya Railways Corporation, Kenya Pipeline Company, Kenya Power and Lighting Company and any other national organization which has a right-of-way to enhance the development of multi-purpose community, public library and post office owned access centers. Also in line with these will be the support to local software industry to develop, deploy and encourage the use of open-source software.
Indeed a convenient infrastructure aided by the removal of regulatory obstacles and bureaucratic regimes will open up rural Kenya, help enhance regional integration and facilitate content provision through the various technological avenues such as digital radio, television and Internet.

The draft National ICT Policy that is currently open for public discussion and contributions, sounds and appears good to the ears. The question is will the government ensure that the policy recommendations become reality? Or will it be another of those government documents only fit to be quoted?

If the policymaking process is to make sense, commitment from the part of the government is a must. Sadly the events of this past week leave a lot to be desired. Early this week ICT stakeholders in the country were holed up in a city hotel to discuss this draft policy. As their deliberations were gathering steam, the minister for information and communications, Raphael Tuju fired the entire CCK (the country’s ICT kingpin) Board of Directors together with its Director General. To this day no explanation from the minister has been adduced to the public. This action by the minister elicited an outcry from stakeholders attending the meeting who expressed doubts of the government’s commitment to the fruitful completion of the process.

The government should know that a sober, comprehensive, all-inclusive and well-meaning policy is formulated where trust exists. Not doubt. As it is now, doubt is in full bloom.