The Kenyan government has significantly increased its revenue collection through the digitisation of public services, Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani has revealed.
Speaking today, Kisiang’ani highlighted the administration’s success in onboarding over 20,000 government services onto digital platforms, a substantial increase from just 350 in 2022 when President William Ruto’s administration took office.
“One of the biggest achievements of our ministry has been creating a platform that minimizes revenue leakages. This government is collecting more money than any other since independence,” Kisiang’ani stated.
He also defended the controversial affordable housing programme, dismissing claims that the initiative is a hoax.
“The public know that affordable houses exist, no lie about that. I have been there to inspect. Soon, the president will start releasing the houses to the owners,” he asserted.
Kisiang’ani urged Kenyans to consider the broader economic benefits of the housing project, emphasizing job creation as a key advantage. “Many good things are happening in Kenya. While many people don’t realise it now, they will see the benefits in a few years, and housing is one of them. Housing is about jobs, and that is the emphasis we are losing in this discussion,” he said.
“To those saying it was a lie that they would be given houses, if you don’t get a house, you get a job,” he added.
Meanwhile, ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui provided updates on the government’s progress in digital infrastructure. He revealed that 1,600 public Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed nationwide, with nearly 400,000 Kenyans using them daily.
“In a month, almost 2 million Kenyans are able to access public Wi-Fi,” Tanui noted.
Further, he disclosed that over 282,000 digital hubs have been established, particularly benefiting young people in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
Tanui also commended Kenya’s advancements in mobile phone manufacturing, announcing that 2.7 million phones have now been produced locally.
“We are laying foundations for the transformation of the digital and tech space,” he said.
These digital advancements align with the government’s vision to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency, and curb revenue leakages, ultimately fostering economic growth and development.
