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{
    "id": 1012746,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1012746/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 27,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Mbito)",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13225,
        "legal_name": "Michael Maling'a Mbito",
        "slug": "michael-malinga-mbito"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.41(1) of the Senate Standing Orders on an issue of general topical concern; the Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to Spur Future Development. Mr. Speaker, Sir, for Africa to not just to survive the current pandemic but thrive investment into digital infrastructure is inevitable. Much needed digital infrastructure and resulting digital transformation will be an enabler of rapid development across the continent, positively impacting the most vulnerable communities. While digital transformation is certainly not a new discussion, the COVID-19 pandemic has abruptly accelerated the need for digital adoption. There is urgent need to invest in connecting communities and improving service delivery to citizens throughout Africa. However, governments across Africa and, indeed, globally, have budgetary constraints that have been exacerbated by the current pandemic. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with digitization requiring significant investments to modernize the Government sector and beyond, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) will play a critical role in accelerating digital transformation. Africa’s recovery must be digitally driven. The digital economy is the recipe for job creation, spurring innovation, boosting economic growth and supporting long-term competitiveness in the global digital economy. To unlock digital transformation, the public sector must be brought into the digital age, accelerating the rollout of digital identification, signatures and registries, as well as implementing digital friendly policies. But to positively impact inequality, citizens need access to the internet. There is more work to be done to create equal opportunities for everyone, including improving next generation connectivity, particularly for rural communities. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the latest Ericsson Mobility Report indicates that mobile data traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to grow by 12 times the current figures by the year 2025. Mobile broadband subscriptions are predicted to reach 72 per cent of mobile subscriptions, while Long-Term Evolution (LTE) subscriptions are set to triple, increasing from 90 million in 2019 to 270 million in 2025. E-commerce has also been growing quickly. Online retailers in Nigeria, for example, have experienced a doubling of revenue each year since 2010. Despite this progress, most sectors of African societies and economies still lag behind the rest of the world in digitization. Mr. Speaker, Sir, African governments have important roles to play in developing sound digital policies and stable harmonized regulatory environments that enable people and businesses to participate fully in the global digital economy. We should, therefore, strive to ensure that a proper framework is in place to enable us to have a proper digitization transformation in Kenya. I thank you."
}