Situational Analysis CHAPTER two 2.0 2.1 sITUATIONAL ANALYSIS Introduction Currently Kenya is one of Africa’s fastest growing ICT markets where ICTs have increased productivity in all spheres of production process and have enabled expansion of skills, contributing to improved standards of living for Kenyans. The First Strategic plan of 2008-12 aimed at addressing the key foundation components in ICT in order to achieve the goal of becoming a knowledge-based economy. The second Strategic Plan 2013-17 will build on the areas identified in the first plan, which consists of the following: Development of national ICTs policies and legal frameworks, infrastructure development, capacity development, content and application development, employment and wealth creation, and public private partnerships. 2.2 Environmental scan The environmental scan will be analysed from the perspectives of opportunities and threats at three levels namely: Global, regional and local. The scan will revolve around political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal issues. The key highlights are contained in the tables below: Table 1: Environmental scan Dimension Issues and/or developments that is likely to impact on the Ministry’s capacity to achieve its objectives. What effect do the changes present in terms of opportunities and threats to the Ministry? Globally Regionally Locally Opportunities Threats Political Growing insecurity due to global terrorism Piracy in the Horn of Africa Terrorist attacks in Kenya Global and regional collaboration to combat terrorism Reduced tourists due to perceived insecurity Middle East conflicts Political instability within the region Conflicts between communities locally Peaceful co-existence of communities Wars Increased awareness on human rights issues Respect/observance of human rights issues Human rights issues enshrined in the Constitution A just and fair society Infiltration of undesirable foreign values and practices Millennium Development Goals Millennium Development Goals adopted by regional governments Government committed to achieve MDGs Global support to achieve MDGs Missing MDG targets by 2015 Global financial crisis destabilising free markets and causing civil unrest Destabilisation of regional integration arrangements Shift political alignment to emerging economies New political realignment Invasion by developed countries Increased political cooperation and alliances that are leading to creation of economic blocs Establishment of the EAC COMESA, and NEPAD, AGOA, EU-ACP agreements Increased likelihood of East African political federation Federal system of Government Loss of sovereignty 7