The typical indicators confirm this trend such as, more than four million Kenyans are regular Internet users, more than six million have mobile phones, and more than 4,000 Kenyan Internet Domain Names have been registered.
In such an economy, the four million Kenyans can potentially trade with a billion other Internet users in the world. They can actually interact beyond economic terms by engaging politically, socially or technically with the rest of the Internet citizens - the Netizens.
But what is the Kenya Government doing to position the Kenyan Netizen as a beneficiary in this new economy that continues to sweep across the global digital landscape?
To answer this question, it might be a good idea to explore the opportunity costs of not doing anything.
If Kenya was to do nothing to claim a stake in the new digital order, it stands to lose several things.
The biggest loss will be that the country will disappear from the global map; initially in terms of its contribution to the global economy, and eventually as a sovereign state.
Its current strengths, either as a tourist destination, horticultural producer or highly-literate populace, will mean nothing unless they are empowered to act and play in the digital environment.
Already, a significant number of tourists are choosing their destination, booking their airlines and hotels at the click of a button. Europeans are ordering flowers grown thousands of miles away at the touch of a button.
In other words, those countries whose services are not visible on the Internet will increasingly lose their competitive edge to their more digitally sensitive rivals. Eventually, such countries will basically cease to exist - their sovereignty and identity succumbing to the powerful digital forces of the new economy.
They will have suffered a digital tsunami whose impact will be so great that it will take a miracle to recover from the effects.
Indeed, the phrase "competition is only a click away" accurately describes the state of play in this new information society.
The first-mover advantages associated with the new digital economy often increase exponentially such that the late-comers are almost condemned to remain behind.
The momentum of digital economies is overwhelming as demonstrated by China, India and other digitally smart countries.
New economic world order
Let's go back to the question: What is Kenya doing to effectively position our society in this new economic world order?
A few things have been done right, and this includes endorsing a futuristic National ICT Policy, drafting a corresponding ICT Bill, and initiating the e-Government Strategy.
Other notable moves include the ongoing liberalisation of the ICT sector, and finally, embarking on the painful but mandatory process of restructuring the Telkom Kenya monopoly.Kenya
However, all these noble actions, increasingly seem to be countered by some underlying currents that ensure minimal impact or total failure.
A case in point is the proposed ICT Bill, which has attracted little or no attention from the public, Parliament and other stakeholders.
If anything, this proposed Bill should draw as much passion and attention as the abortive draft Constitution because it defines the terms, conditions and behaviour of the rapidly emerging digital society - the dot.com society.
The e-Government Strategy continues to make minimal, rather than significant, strides due to insufficient budgetary or political will to implement operational changes within Government.
Telkom Kenya's restructuring process keeps following the familiar dance of two steps ahead and one backwards. And while all this is happening, other countries are getting better and digging deeper into their digital economy.
Who will rise up and save us from this imminent digital tsunami? Who will spare us from this threat of digital oblivion?
Autor/Author: John Walubengo
Quelle/Source: AllAfrica, 16.05.2006
