Abstract:
The answers to the research question as to how ICT policy and e-strategy can spur good
governance and sustainable development in Kenya and the EAC Sub-region have been
articulated in this thesis by presenting both developed generic ICT policy statements and
specific ones matching Kenya and EAC. This thesis strongly argues that ICT policy and
e-strategy not charity, shall determine whether new technologies become tools for good
governance and sustainable development. It challenges governments to take lead in
incubating new ICT applications if faster and sustainable adoption of the technology is
expected.
The surveys conducted at ALGAK and in Bungoma district in Kenya revealed that local
authorities were neither informed nor involved in the ongoing national e-government
implementation. Also exposed by research is the anecdotal evidence that the egovernment
rollout was being implemented using a top-down approach. This thesis
argues the pros and cons of such action and proposes a suitable model based on research.
This thesis presents the observation that the Kenyan laws and regulations relating to ICT
had five key characteristics that made them inadequate. The probable basis for the
identified characteristics is cited, followed by the accompanying recommendations of the
appropriate legal and regulatory reforms needed in order to create an enabling
environment in Kenya.
2
Trends in ICT indicators such as mobile phone subscribers, mobile communications
revenue, annual telecommunication investment and International bandwidth of OECD,
COMESA and EAC countries have been studied and discussed.
A generic and holistic e-strategy conceptual framework named Multi-Layered and
Networked MuL_Net is described. The MuL_Net model has been partially tested and the
results are presented.
The thesis also discusses the findings to the question as to whether the Kenya ICT policy
formulation process was informed by the existing local ICT initiatives and if any linkages
existed between them.
