ICT Practitioners Bill is timely and advances excellence

John Walubengo’s recent blog post targeted ICTAK unfairly and raises critical issues of authenticity and factual worth.

The article needs to be understood in the context of the ICT Practitioners Bill 2016, that ICTAK has petitioned Parliament to consider.

The Bill addresses emerging issues and seeks to organise the ICT industry along standards and practices that will elevate Kenya’s ICT sector to a global model.

Mr Walubengo, who has hitherto maintained objectivity in his blogs, appears to have caved in to the pressure of those who read the Bill selectively and misconstrued certain provisions of the Bill, especially Section 15, which sets out the qualifications for registration.

To sweeten propaganda against the Bill, shadowy forces riding on social media perpetuate the lie that a university degree is mandatory for recognition.

Anyone who has read the Bill certainly appreciates the liberal nature of provisions enunciated in it. The requirements set out under Clause 15 (a) to (d) are independent and mutually exclusive. One may qualify through any of the options.

UNSCRUPULOUS FIRMS

Other unfounded claims are that the Bill will kill media freedom and slow down innovation. Once enacted, the Bill will deliver multiple benefits and inspire confidence in the ICT sector. Kenyan ICT industry and its professionals will be respected globally.

The Bill addresses concerns by employers relating to training modalities applied by learning institutions that are not in tune with ICT market skills demand.

Rogue institutions that rip off Kenyans by purporting to offer ICT programmes without even a single computer will be put on the radar once the Bill is ratified. Unscrupulous firms and venture capitalists will no longer be able to exploit young ICT innovators and practitioners.

To reduce litigation in the ICT sector, the Bill provides for arbitration of ICT related disputes.

By providing for a professional code of conduct and disciplinary measures in cases of violations, service delivery in the industry will be boosted. Persons aggrieved by the quality of ICT products and services will be able to seek redress.

The Institute established under the Bill will buttress government ICT strategy by advising the Cabinet Secretary on appropriate policies and emergent issues, including alarming cyber security phenomena.

POLICY POSITION

The Bill is modelled along global best practices and upon similar principles to those of Acts that have been applied to accord statutory recognition to other professions.

These include, among others, the Accountants Act, Nutritionists and Dieticians Act, Human Resource Management Professionals Act and the Counsellors and Psychologists Act.

Remarks by Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Mr Joe Mucheru, that the Bill does not represent the policy position of the Government of Kenya, are scandalous, to say the least.

In the National Information and Communications Technology Policy, the government commits to “recognise and encourage the formation of national ICT professional bodies registered under the laws of Kenya to foster professional ethics, standards and human resource development.”

The Kenya National ICT Master plan (2014 - 2018) decries the sad fact that “the ICT professionals have not yet managed to form a credible and legally recognised professional body to recruit and regulate ICT professionals, and to set standards and code of ethics for its members.”

Mr Mucheru should show cause as to why he should remain on the taxpayers’ payroll after demonstrating such mediocre mastery of the policy documents that govern his docket.

CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENTS

ICT advocacy is not for the fainthearted and for cowards who opt to hide under the cover of social media hashtags.

Furthermore, ICTAK has the willpower and is not afraid to tread where there is duty or danger in steering the ICT sector forward. We believe in sound intellectual conversation, not in the disgrace of personalised epithets, tirades and vitriol.

Deliberations in any media should be characterised by civility and constructive engagements without degenerating into unnecessary confrontations that have nothing to do with the issues at hand.

ICTAK rotates within the orbit of ICT excellence and is not in competition with any person or entity. Accordingly, we encourage anybody who is apprehensive about any clause in the Bill to forward the same to Parliament for consideration.

Any sector, to be robust, requires a body that is proactive, zealous and meticulous in advancing long-term interests, even when short-term or vested interests pose stiff opposition.

ICTAK invites all those who share a vision for a vibrant digital society to stand up and be counted.

Kamotho Njenga is the Secretary General, ICT Association of Kenya (ICTAK)