State needs to boost growth of ICT sector

Kenya’s often-stated claim of being the regional digital hub has suffered following recent developments in Rwanda. The tiny country and East African Community partner state has made strong strides in ICT, with its neighbours playing catch up on many fronts.

Last week, Rwanda announced the launch of a satellite into space to provide high speed Internet for her citizens. While Kenya had launched a satellite last year, mostly to provide data on weather, Rwanda’s satellite ties in more firmly with wider efforts to enable innovation among the youth. Broadband internet is a crucial ingredient to development of revolutionary ICT products, especially in this age of smartphones and an increasingly digital world.