Kenya: Stakeholders Debate ICT Sector Policy and Kenya Information and Communications Act (amendment Bill)

Stakeholders in the ICT sector today converged at the KCB Leadership Centre at Karen to discuss the proposed ICT Sector Policy and Kenya Information and Communications Act (Amendment Bill). The revision of the sector policy and law is aimed at aligning the ICT regulatory framework with the constitution. Article 34 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of the media and provides that the body that regulates the media should be independent of government, political and commercial interests.

The bill proposes to transform CCK to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) to reflect enhanced independence. The authority will have 10 board directors seven of whom will be appointed for a three-year period by the president through a competitive process. The Director General of the authority shall be appointed competitively for a four-year term renewal once. The authority will be responsible for developing standards for broadcasting content and regulating and monitoring compliance over and above the current mandate. The bill revises membership to the Universal Service Advisory Council (USAC) to include representatives of broadcasting, telecommunications and postal sectors as observers. This is meant to enhance transparency in the management of the Fund.

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