Machakos: 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.
According to Kenya News Agency, ICTA CEO Zilper Awiti, while speaking during a three-day Board induction session at a Machakos hotel, stated that they are looking forward to working with the Board members as the Authority aims to provide an overview of their progress 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, which will require oversight from the Board to achieve their mandate.
Awiti emphasized that having a Board with credible skills and expertise is a significant opportunity, as the government has assigned ICTA critical responsibilities like deploying public WIFI nationwide and installing over 1,700 hotspots in various markets and public sites. Regarding cybersecurity challenges, Awiti highlighted the Authority's responsibility to enhance secure platforms for investors and citizens to connect globally and access e-commerce opportunities without needing to relocate.
The CEO called for collaborative efforts from sector partners, stakeholders, and Private Public Partnerships (PPP) to sustain the infrastructure, digital transformation, and increase services, acknowledging the substantial responsibility placed on the Authority.
ICTA Board Chair Hon Lily Ng'ok added that they plan to achieve the Authority's mandate of ensuring WIFI connectivity in all institutions by 2027, aligning with the Bottom Up Transformative Agenda (BETA), through collaboration with the ICTA management. Ng'ok recognized the government's push for digitizing all government services in underserved rural areas, working with 19 underserved counties to ensure connectivity in schools and villages.
Ng'ok stressed that ICTA's mandate is to ensure connectivity across all institutions, colleges, schools, health facilities, and government offices, eliminating the need for citizens to travel to Nairobi for government services. She revealed the Board's plans to develop a roadmap to fulfill their commitments.