Tech skilling is inevitable

The recent digitisation of the National Police Service, notably the Occurrence Book (OB), is commendable. Developed countries are characterised by large-scale adoption of connected digital technologies and information and communication applications to control, manage and predict socio-political and economic issues.

Crime, for instance, is best monitored and detected through technology. The gradual roll-out of digital OBs will provide the national security office with data that can be analysed to yield useful information concerning the types, frequency and patterns of crime, enabling the authorities to follow up on prosecution as well as proffer remedial measures. Therefore, police officers must be retooled accordingly.

The Covid-19 pestilence has taught us the importance of a digital economy. The headache learning institutions and public offices have, for instance, would have been mitigated if Kenya was fully digital. Though a tall order, digitisation is necessary and should be pursued relentlessly for long-term gain.

Digitisation will also help in addressing the bloated civil service. Most of its functions can be automated.

For example, if registry offices that predominantly deal in paperwork are moved online, the country will save much in terms of office space, salaries and related expenses. Further, the burden of corruption that lurks in the course of transactions will reduce.

But the topic of job automation is often met with opposition due to fears of redundancy. However, most of these jobs can be transferred. Huduma Centres have attracted tech hubs where people are referred to fill and upload required information.

This calls for citizens, more so the youth, to thirstily imbibe ICT skills lest they are rendered irrelevant. As the ageing civil servants retire together with their analog jobs, expect to see a progressively narrower civil service, which will free the payroll for development programmes. Hence, the much-touted digital learning programme must be revisited in earnest.