Kenya’s ICT sector accounts for three percent of GDP, and it is poised to expand next year. According to estimates for the fiscal year 2012, the government will pump millions into efforts to boost the sector. The state will spend nearly US$10 million dollars to boost exposure to ICTs in schools and far-flung villages.

Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta says the state will pump more than US$2.3 million into its much vaunted digital villages project or Pasha Centers. The Minister says the other US$7.5 million will be used to purchase computers for schools across the country. Commentators say this will provide early initiation into the digital world for a broader cross-section of Kenyan youth.

But none of these grand plans will work without major improvement of Kenya’s electricity infrastructure. “Electricity is very essential in the roll-out and running of ICT infrastructure,” says Telecommunications Engineer Esmond Shahonya. The Kenyan government agrees. The East-African ICT hub will spend US$62 million to electrify 460 trading centres and 110 secondary schools, among other public facilities under the rural electrification program. This will further bridge the digital divide.

The ICT sector will also benefit from the $730 million allocated to the Ministry of Energy.