Telkom, National Assembly in a Sh61.5m ICT deal

By Ramadhan Rajab

National Assembly and Telkom have entered a Sh61.5 million ICT project.

The agreement will see the 222 Members of Parliament get laptops fixed with a modem to enable them the access Internet.

The bundled solution was presented to the speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende and James Rege, Parliamentary Select Committee on Communication chairperson at Parliament buildings yesterday.

Marende said that the rollout of the initiative will bridge the communication barrier that has hindered effective public service delivery due to delayed and slow information sharing.

"Digitisation of our law makers will streamline and give cost-effective and flexible communication solutions to MPs to serve their constituents better," Marende said.

Rege said that the partnership will enhance the way MPs do business assisting them attend to their constituency issues with ease.

Service delivery

"It is more than mere laptops and Internet connections, but kick-starting a partnership that will transform the way we work as well lead the way in demonstrating to Kenyans the very real benefits of technology in enhancing productivity and therefore the development of the economy," Rege said.

Dominique Saint-Jean, Telkom Kenya chief executive officer, said that the comprehensive solution will also offer training to those members who are computer illiterate as well as providing technical support enabling government to achieve more in terms of service efficiency. "Adoption of this solution is a positive step forward in responding to public’s need for faster and quality service delivery," Dominique said.