The ICT Authority has held an induction session for its Board of Directors to help in implementing key projects and supporting Kenya’s digital growth while creating an avenue for management to work together with Board members.
The ICTA CEO Zilper Awiti while speaking during a three-day Board induction session at a Machakos hotel, said that they are looking forward in working with the Board members as the Authority intends to give the Board an overview of where they are in implementing ICT projects and their future plans in the digital space.
She added that the government has entrusted the Authority with several Key ICT projects such as deploying 100,000 km of fiber across the country that will require the oversight from the Board members to be able to achieve their mandate
“This is a big opportunity for us to have a Board with credible skills and expertise that will oversee our duties since the government has entrusted us with key responsibilities such as deploying public WIFI across the country and installing over 1700 hotspots in various markets and public sites,” said Awiti.
In regards to cyber security challenges, Awiti pointed out that it is the responsibility of the Authority to accelerate and increase secure platforms for investors and where citizens can connect to the globe while accessing E commerce for digital opportunities without having to move around and be able to empower themselves.
“The ideal situation once we complete the infrastructure is to ensure there is impact such that the citizens are able to utilize the services that the government is providing,” noted the ICTA CEO.
She called for collaborative efforts from Sector partners, stakeholders and Private Public Partnership (PPP) to be able to sustain the infrastructure, digital transformation and increase services since it’s a huge responsibility for the Authority.
The ICTA Board Chair Hon Lily Ng’ok on her part added that they intend to achieve the Authority’s mandate of ensuring WIFI connectivity in all institutions by 2027 in relation to the Bottom Up Transformative Agenda (BETA), by working and interacting with the ICTA management.
Ng’ok acknowledged the government’s efforts in advocating digitization of all government services in underserved rural areas and bringing services to the people as they are currently working with 19 undeserved counties to ensure there is connectivity to all schools and villages where they can work from the comfort of their homes.
“ICTA mandate is to ensure there is connectivity in all institutions, colleges, schools, health facilities and government offices because gone are the days when people were required to travel to Nairobi to access government services,” affirmed Ng’ok.
She disclosed plans they have as a Board to develop a road map to ensure what they have promised to do will be accomplished.
By Anne Kangero
