----- Forwarded message from alice@apc.org ----- It is such a pity that the fastest moving sector has not been given the attention and prominence it deserves, what with Safaricom's and other's contribution to the economy! Anyway we have been accused of moaning! The draft vision was created by NESC, and from what I see the ICT "sector" cuts across the 3 main pillars Economic, social and political they have presented.They have outlined the project's approach which will take three phases, I see an immediate entry point for ICTs during phase one where they will "identify priority sectors with possibilities of quick wins" The plan also mentions creation of ministerial committee headed by P.S from various ministries and involving stakeholders to identify sector specific visions/constraints, etc This is good for all stakeholders and we should take the opportunity to work with our ministry and P.S. Perhaps KICTAnet could work with the IC master plan team to ensure that links between the IC plan and the 2030 vision are created in all phases. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nation Media" <news@nationmedia.com> To: <alice@apc.org> Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:22 PM Subject: [Kictanet] Nationmedia.com News: Kibaki launches vision for growth

eadera@idrc.or.ke has sent you this article from Nationmedia.com with this message: Colleagues, It is TRAGIC! that vision 2030 has not given prominence to the role of ICTs as an enabler - it's not highlighted in the article, maybe in the document itself?. Who's working on the strategy to deliver this vision? and what role can we play as KICTANET to change this? This is a challenge I throw to all of us! We must do something! The countries mentioned in this article have been fundamentally transformed by ICTs. your views on practical steps we can take to ensure ICTs are well integrated in the strategy? Edith Kibaki launches vision for growth Published: 10/31/2006 By: MUGO NJERU

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President Kibaki yesterday launched an ambitious economic programme aimed at transforming Kenya into an economic powerhouse with a sustainable growth rate of 10 per cent by 2030.

The President told leaders to keep politics out of the project dubbed Kenya Vision 2030.

President Kibaki greets Nation CEO Wilfred Kiboro and other members of the National Economic and Social Council yesterday before officially launching Vision 2030 at KICC in Nairobi. The vision is expected to transform Kenya into a prosperous nation. Photo/William Oeri.

He said: "Vision 2030 goes beyond any single government, party, political persuasion or religion. It is a call to all Kenyans to make it possible for us to wipe out from our land absolute poverty, famine, mass unemployment and preventable deaths from malaria and water-borne diseases."

Although President Kibaki said he was optimistic that the development goal would be achieved, it will depend on how the country manages its affairs in the next five years.

High quality of life

"Under Vision 2030, we see ourselves becoming a middle-income, prosperous country, providing a high quality of life for all our people," the President said at the launch of the initiative at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.

To realise the goal, he said Kenyans must build on the competitive advantages in key sectors of the economy to expand the country's share of the global market.

Besides the 10 per cent growth over 25 years, another pillar of the programme will be building a just and cohesive society with equitable social development and a clean and secure environment.

The initiative also aims at building a democratic political system that nurtures issue-based politics, the rule of law and protects the rights and freedoms of every individual and society.

Several leaders at the meeting described the vision as noble and said it should be supported by all Kenyans. ODM Kenya secretary-general Anyang Nyong'o said the vision was good but its success would depend on the goodwill of successive governments. "The Government and the opposition are united on this vision," he said.

Finance minister Amos Kimunya said its success depended on people working together as one nation.

He and other speakers said it was possible to propel the country to the levels of economies like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Chile and South Korea, most of which which were in the same economic footing with Kenya in the 1970s.

Trade and Industry minister Mukhisa Kituyi said the vision is achievable if it is not held hostage by any government and if it receives support from the media and the private sector.

President Kibaki said for the country to realise the success of the vision, it was important to put in place a clear strategy detailing what needed to be achieved for each of the pillars of the programme for the next five years.

He said that over the years, coffee production has been declining from over 120,000 tons a year to less than 50,000 this year, which had a devastating effect on farmers' incomes and employment opportunities.

"We need to make sure that under Vision 2030, the strategies that will be developed will not repeat the mistakes of the past and avoid imposing a costly burden on the people of this country," he said.

On manufacturing, the President said the sector had barely grown in the last 20 years. "The textile industry which was very vibrant in 1970s and 1980s has virtually been wiped out while the EPZ-based enterprises are experiencing serious competition in the global market," he said.

Leather and other livestock-related industries have also not made significant breakthroughs in the global market although these are sectors in which Kenya could have competitive advantage and growth if the right strategies and policies were applied.

"I challenge the experts who are developing the strategies to pay special attention to these sectors for the next five years, because they have the greatest potential for delivering widely shared economic and social benefits for the Kenyan people," President Kibaki said.

On tourism, he noted that although the number of tourists visiting Kenya had increased over the last few years, income from the sector was far below that of small European countries, the Caribbean and North Africa.

With proper planning and investment, the country should be able to attract and accommodate five million tourists by 2012, the President said.

He said the economic performance of any country was closely tied to the application of science and technology and that was why the country was investing considerably in higher education and research institutions.

The vision strategy, he said, should be geared towards enhancing Kenya's scientific and technological capacity, promoting a scientific culture and integrating science and technology into the production and service sectors.

There was also need to expand, upgrade and sustain health facilities while ensuring that they remain accessible and affordable to all Kenyans.

President Kibaki said rapid urban population growth had resulted in serious unemployment, growing slums and an increase of hawkers. It was also causing a severe strain on the provision of services such as maintenance of law and order, water supply, sewerage and sanitation, education and health facilities.

The President said: "Effective planning of and ability to enforce compliance for the proper administration of our cities and major towns requires to be accorded high priority in the strategies that will be developed to meet the challenges of urbanisation."

He directed that measures to wipe out slums and replace them with well-planned, low-cost houses in all major towns be implemented without delay.

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