Factors affecting implementation of universal access to information and communication technology in Kenya: a survey of Nairobi county

Abstract

Many governments including Kenyan have put so much in place in order to ensure that every citizen has access to ICT services. The study examined the factors that affect the implementation by assessing the positive and negative effects of the current policy and strategies, the regulatory environment, ICT stakeholders, market environment and ICT infrastructure on the implementation of Universal Access. The study targeted a population of ICT policy implementers and market players in the telecommunication sector who are directly dealing with the implementation of universal access in Kenya. The target population was 300 people out of which 30% was the sample representative. Stratified random sampling was used whereby the population was split into two strata implementation and monitoring and ICT market players after which systemic random sampling was used to get the 90 representatives. Questionnaires were used to carry out the data collection. The data collected was coded and analyzed using SPSS to generate frequencies and cross-tabulations. The strategy on basic telecommunication made available at affordable prices has been implemented fully (70.6 %). The study further showed that USF which was introduced for the purposes of subsidization has not been used (70.6 %) even after the regulatory framework was established for the same fund. Also on the set targets, targets on mobile telephone have already been fully achieved (96%), the other set targets have not yet been achieved. The results show that through the KICTANet and TESPOK, the stakeholders have fairly been involved in the (47.1%) in the process of policy making and amendment, poorly involved (41.1%) in developing universal access targets and indicators and in laying down of strategies to implement Universal Access. The findings also reveals that poor quality, low connectivity speed and low reliability of ICT infrastructure, low access to roads and high illiteracy levels are the infrastructure aspects that control the phase of technology adoption and have great contribution on UA to ICT in Kenya. The regression established ICT usage ability, infrastructure availability and price regulation the three factors affecting the implementation of UA in Kenya.