Kenya

Kenya

National Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Policy Guidelines 2020

07 Aug 2020

Kenya has implemented the National Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Policy Guidelines 2020 (the 2020 ICT Policy), which were published in the Kenya Gazette on 7 August 2020. They introduce local participation requirements in various sectors. The requirements include the following: • For listed companies, at least 25% of their shareholding must be reserved for local investors; • Foreign ownership of equity in various industries, such as insurance and telecommunications, is restricted to not more than two thirds and 80%, respectively, although the government gives telecommunications companies a grace period of 3 years to find local investors to achieve the local ownership requirements; and • Companies providing ICT services are required to have at least 30% local ownership. The requirement was reintroduced by the 2020 ICT Policy. The 2006 ICT Policy had originally provided for a 30% local ownership requirement. However, in 2007, the threshold was brought down from 30% to 20%. The 2020 ICT Policy has reverted to the original position.