Govt commissions study to assess usage of ICT

Communications Authority board chairman Ben Ngene Gituku (left) chats with KNBS chairman Terry Ryan (second from left) at a breakfast event to launch the study on ICT usage in businesses and public sector. PHOTO | LILIAN OCHIENG

What you need to know:

  • CA Director- General Francis Wangusi said the study will inform policy decision and provide a base for investors in deployment of ICT infrastructure in the country.
  • The move follows a Presidential directive to state agencies and ministries to embrace set ICT standards in a bid to cut on spending, ensure quality and curtail cyber-attacks on systems.
  • The directive issued in October has not been adhered to as state agencies and ministries are still trying to gain skills on how to approach the issue.

The Communications Authority (CA) and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) have begun a study that will assess the usage of ICT services among businesses and in the public sector.

At a press briefing Friday, the two signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in collecting data for the study to be published in June.

CA Director-General Francis Wangusi said the study will inform policy decision and provide a base for investors in deployment of ICT infrastructure in the country.

“CA will contribute Sh13 million while KNBS will contribute Sh51 million towards the study, the idea is to find out to what extent the public sector has been using ICT services as well as private businesses,” said CA board chair Ben Ngene Gituku.

“It will help us to fill access gaps and see where to concentrate our investments in terms of ICT. The outcome of the study will give us details of how to move forward.”

The move follows a presidential directive to state agencies and ministries to embrace set ICT standards in a bid to cut spending, ensure quality and curtail cyber-attacks on systems.