In sum, some of the sticking points are as follows:

a)    Objective of the Bill: The Bill will achieve more harm than good for the ICT industry.

b)    There was not adequate Public Participation in development of the Bill, yet the ICT sector has a history of consultations in development of laws and policies for the sector.

c)    The Bill is In congruent with other laws and policies in the sector.

d)    The Bill would be impractical to implement.

e)    The Bill has many incoherent provisions.

f)     The Bill stifles Innovation.

g)    There is an ongoing Policy Review process spearheaded by the Ministry of ICT and legislation affecting the industry should come after the policy process.

h)   The ICT community had identified priorities such as a Data Protection framework and a Cyber Security framework as priority areas for legislative intervention.

i)     The Bill will create hurdles for youth in the ICT sector by creating a mandatory registration regime. 

j)    The Bill overrates university education, which most of the youth in the sector do not have although they have other ICT skills and competencies, acquired through self learning and certification etc.

k)    The Bill is not in line with global practices and policies on ICT human resource management and will for instance inhibit movement of labour in the sector in the East African Community.

It is for the foregoing reasons that we pray,  that the Bill be withdrawn to allow for proper consultations among stakeholders and completion of the ongoing Kenya ICT policy review process.