New authority to improve efficiency in ICT industry

Three government institutions in the technology sector have been consolidated into a new authority set up by President Uhuru Kenyatta to step up efficiency in the industry.

According to Information Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, the President signed a notice establishing the Information Communication Technology Authority (ICTA).
ICTA now takes over the roles and resources previously held by the ICT Board of Kenya, the e-Government Directorate and the Government Information and Technology Services (GITS).

“ICTA, as we speak, is a legal entity. We’ve amalgamated these three bodies into this authority which will coordinate government activities in ICT sector,” Mr Matiang’i told the Nation last week. The presidential notice, the Nation has learned, is being processed by the Government Printer.

Mr Matiang’i said the government is now forming ICTA’s board which is expected to be in place by the end of the month. The President will appoint ICTA chair while the ministry will be in charge of appointing board members. All staff of the former ICT Board, GITS and e-Government Directorate, Mr Matiang’i said, are now under ICTA.

However, their fate in the long-term will be decided by the board once it starts its work.