National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi while presenting the 2025/2026 national budget/SCREENGRABIn a bid to boost productivity and competitiveness in the digital superhighway and creative economy, the Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has proposed Sh12.7 billion to improve ICT infrastructure and wider internet access.
According to Mbadi, the allocation will ensure the creative industry provide vital job opportunities for youth and helps tackle unemployment.
The specific allocations include Sh3.7 billion for Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project and Sh3.1 billion Konza Data Center and Smart City facilities.
Others are the construction of KAIST at Konza Technopolis, which has been allocated Sh2.3 billion and Sh1.4 billion for digital superhighway, government shared services and digital hubs.
Sh1billion has been proposed for maintenance and rehabilitation connectivity networks and Sh0.7 billion towards e-government procurement.
This allocation is a reduction of Sh3.6 billion from the allocation in 2024-25 financial year.
As compared to the 2023/24, the sector got Sh15.1 billion.
The allocation was to finance a number of government projects under the Ministry of ICT where Sh2.3 billion was set aside for the construction of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Konza Technopolis got Sh5.2 billion for the Konza data centre and smart city facilities.
For government shared services, the Treasury had allocated Sh1.1 billion, while the last-mile county connectivity network had been allocated Sh2.8 billion for maintenance and rehabilitation.
