NAIROBI, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Friday launched a five-year plan to advance innovation in the country's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector and fast-track its digital transformation.

Margaret Ndung'u, the cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, who launched the plan in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, said it would help narrow the digital divide, promote inclusion and enhance safety in the digital space.

"Through this plan, we will build digital bridges that span the breadth of our nation. As a government we remain committed to creating an enabling environment for ICT to thrive," Ndung'u said.

She said through the plan, which has been formulated by Kenya's ICT regulator, the government would empower women through digital technologies to ensure they are not left behind in the East African nation's digital journey.

According to her, the government would ensure that the use and access to ICT among women is as equal to that of men, as currently it stands at 30:50 respectively.

Stanley Kamanguya, the chief executive officer of Kenya's ICT Authority, said in the medium term, the institution plans to expand Kenya's fiber network nationwide by laying 100,000 km of fiber optic cable, installing 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, and establishing 1,450 digital village smart hubs.

The agency will also develop the National Digital Solutions Export Framework, a Digital Diplomacy Guideline and a National Cybersecurity Index. Enditem

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