Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo has called for concerted efforts to harness benefits of the digital economy. He says Kenya’s media organisations can effectively embrace the changing media landscape through use of technology in media operations.
Mr Omwoyo who spoke at the Nation Digital Summit held on 22-24 February 2023 during a session on adopting digital technologies for business growth said Kenya needs concrete blueprints to promote innovation and technology adoption.
He urged the media to leverage digital economy to maximise returns in the face of dwindling incomes from legacy media.
“ The media industry needs to accept that the digital space is real and should not engage in digital resistance. The big fear needs to be faced head on. Innovators should get organised and approach relevant bodies such as government and development partners to help them actualise their ideas”, said Mr Omwoyo.
“For us to enjoy the benefits that come with digital technology, we need to have our Silicon Valleys in Kenya. This will cushion us against the high costs of employing technology locally in our various undertakings. This is possible and can be done in better ways in Kenya if we want to reap the full benefits of digital technology”, he told the gathering in Mombasa.
He at the same time called for deliberate efforts to discuss a mechanism of monetising the digital economy, adding that incubation and mentorship must remain key aspects of this objective.
“As a country we need to record the impact of the digital economy. Documenting the chain of incubation and monetisation of the digital space is a serious African problem”, he said.
Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Mr Eliud Owalo affirmed the Government’s commitment to the realisation of a successful and sustainable digital economy through the Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022-2032.
United States Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman urged Kenya to tell its digital revolution story to the world in order to attract investment in the sector.
“The Kenyan media should be at the forefront in exposing the huge potential that is in the digital economy in this country. Doing this will drive up interest from foreign investors, which will ultimately catapult Kenya’s economy”, she said.