Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (Photo: Mary Kay Inc.)

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has agreed to assist Kenya in the establishment of a Global Innovation Centre in Nairobi.

The United Nations agency specialising in information and communication technologies (ICTs) also intends to engage with the Kenyan government on a variety of ICT-related issues.

During a meeting between Prof Edward Kisiang'ani, senior secretary of the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, and ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the agency in charge of ICTs agreed to give technical assistance in the development of the Centre.

The promise was made on the sidelines of the recently ended World Radiocommunications Conference 2023 (WRC-23), which was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is already in the process of establishing the centre. CA did not specify what the centre will be used for, but it is viewed as another positive step towards the country's digitization agenda.

Kenya has been a member of the ITU council for nearly 41 years, having been elected for the first time in 1982.

Kenya has been an active member of the Council for many years, serving on different Council Working Groups, committees within the Union's three sectors, and other significant organs such as the Radio Regulations Board.

Kenya has established a regional and global reputation in the field of ICT, establishing itself as a trustworthy partner in the creation of digital transformation for its people and the region, said ITU.

Prof Kisiang'ani also updated the ITU boss on the government's digital transformation programme, which has resulted in the digitisation of over 15000 government services.

Technology is identified as a crucial pillar in Kenya's Transformation Agenda in the National Digital Masterplan - 2022-2032. In reality, tremendous strides have been made towards developing crucial digital infrastructure across the country.

The government, in conjunction with the business sector and guided by the ICT Authority, is also on schedule to have over 100,000km of fibre infrastructure in place within the next five years.

According to the government, this development will improve service delivery in a variety of sectors, including health, finance, and agriculture.