ICTs in Governance: One Fine Example

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ICTs in Governance One Fine Example

• The Fourth African Development Forum
• 11-15 October 2004
• UNECA,
• Addis Ababa
• Florence Etta
• International Development Research Centre
• Nairobi Kenya

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Introduction

• Purpose
• To share one experience of the Kenya ICT Policy
  Project
• To use this example as a basis for discussion
• To analyse the implications from this example

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The Project (1)

• The Kenya ICT Policy Project - supported by IDRC
  (Acacia/Connectivtity Africa)
• Works with
• Ministry of Planning and National Development
• The Office of the President
• Collaborating with
• the Kenya Private Sector Alliance ICT Board
• A Civil society ICT operative

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The Project (2)

• Objectives
• Support the mainstreaming of ICTs
• Support required research
• Legal and legislative environment
• Institutional Arrangements
• Digital Indicators and E-modeling
• ICTs in SMEs and JuaKali
• Document the experiences
• Share experiences widely
• An initial 12 month period from October 2003

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The Example

• A short history
• The KIPlist started in December 03
• Sought subscribers
• Subscribers could post to the list
• List managed by project team
• 1st June 2004, Madaraka Day
• Presidents Speech posted to list
• Minister for Finance Budget day presentation to
  Parliament posted to list

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The Effect

• Within one week almost 20 responses made on the
  list from a wide array of stakeholders.
• The Head of Public Service wrote in response
  requesting a discussion and meeting with
  stakeholders.
• Stakeholders organised online, met face-to-face,
  discussed the issues and crafted a response to
  the HoS

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Follow-Through

• The promised meeting has not happened yet.
• The common response drafted by stakeholders has
  been forwarded.
• The waiting game starts.

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What implications

• With the right tools and instruments, government
  can hear citizens.
• Citizens must be sensitive to, pick up and spread
  government plans, declarations etc in a manner
  that can be understood.
• Championing is critical.
• Government and others must be on the same
  channels e.g. on the same discussion list.
• The list must be broad based and have integrity.
• Key individuals must react publicly on the same
  medium. A major issue with contemporary
  government communication!
• Conversations and arguments must be balanced.

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What Next?

• Government showed responsiveness but appears to
  have forgotten!
• How can this be explained and or managed?
• How can the initial momentum be maintained?
• Who should do what?
• For how long?
• To what effect?

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