Governments and private sector should collaborate on innovation

One of the reasons why Kenya introduced 25 percent duty on imported used computers was to cultivate local innovation. The government pointed to the Madaraka PC project as one of the ways locals would promote locally produced PCs instead of importing used ones.

The argument sounds very logical and well thought out until you question where the Madaraka PC is. It has been more than a year, and there is nothing much to show to the public.

The government has also come up with initiatives aimed at funding and actualizing some of the innovative products that are promising. The software incubation project shows a lot of commitment from the government.

Then there are the private sector-led initiatives that seek to foster innovation through funding, training and mentorship. The innovation hubs can only offer hope to the IT sector.

But all efforts seem fragmented.

It would make more difference if the government and the private sector came together and identified their strengths to concentrate on what they know best.

For instance, there is need for appropriate legislation, which the government can help by drafting and working with the private sector to pass and enforce. With e-commerce and marketing, the private sector can concentrate on that.

In the end, the sector will only grow.