The Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Technology has today made a statement on the Floor of the House regarding its activities for the period commencing 4th October 2022 to date. 

In a statement read by the Chairperson and Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang on the Floor of the House, the Committee informed the Senate that it held a total of twenty-seven sittings during the period under review, during which it considered one Legislative Proposal, two Bills, six Statements and one inquiry. 

The Legislative Proposal in question is the Konza Technopolis which the Committee resolved its publication as the Konza Technopolis Bill, 2023 (Senate Bill No. 2 of 2023). 

The Committee also considered The Office of the County Printer Bill, 2022 (Senate Bills No. 10 of 2022), prepared the report and tabled it in the Senate earlier today. On the Konza Technopolis Bill, 2023, the Committee is currently awaiting submissions from the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy before tabling the report. 

Consequently, the Committee considered and concluded three Statements that were sought from it and is currently considering the remaining three.

The three Statements that the Committee concluded include a Statement regarding the plan by Safaricom PLC to block SIM cards not registered by 15th October 2022 requested by Sen. Abdul Haji, a Statement regarding the localization of Digital Data Storage requested by Sen. Gloria Orwoba and a Statement regarding the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation’s discrimination towards Eastern indigenous languages requested by Sen. Mohammed Chute. 

The Committee is currently pursuing responses to the following statements: a Statement regarding the data protection in the SIM card registration process and a Statement regarding the management of Media Council of Kenya Funds both requested by Sen. Gloria Orwoba. 

Senator Chesang also informed the House that the Committee is currently conducting an inquiry on the Digital Assets Infrastructure in Kenya and will table the report once it is concluded. 

In conclusion, to ensure that online access to Government Services is available to all, the Committee intends to conduct fact-finding visits to various counties to establish the extent of coverage of the Fiber Optic Network (NOFBI) to County Headquarters, County Assemblies, Government Offices and Primary and Secondary Schools.