State inaction to market outsourcing censured

By Fredrick Obura

KENYA: The Government has been petitioned to market Kenya as an ideal outsourcing hub.

A section of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies on Friday argued that Kenya stood a better chance of winning international contracts but the Government was putting little effort in marketing this lucrative venture.

In an interview with The Standard On Saturday, the managing director for the Digital Divide Data (DDD), Amolo Ngweno said aggressive marketing was necessary to help the struggling sector compete favourably with its peers.

“There is need for more resource allocation in marketing the country as a BPO destination, the industry is struggling and many cannot afford marketing budget at the international level,” she said.

“We want the Kenya ICT Board to improve on their marketing strategies to bring up the industry,” she said adding that Kenya unlike India and other popular destinations had competent personnel, qualities that resonate well with outsourcing duties.

She urged the Government and local companies, notably banks to consider outsourcing some of their non-core jobs, such as data entry to local outsourcing companies. “The Government should recognise potential of BPOs in giving out its tenders.” Kenya’s vision 2030, a development blue print puts the sector at prime position to help attain middle-income economy dream. The sector, which has around 40 registered players with few operating, has, however, received little attention.

This has stagnated growth, as the country is yet to attract major jobs. Industry players reckon that despite the prevailing cheap bandwidth, a factor they have previously been cited as hindrance, the industry is still struggling to gain strong footing.

Apart from poor marketing, they also cited slow progress in passing of crucial Bills, such as the Data Protection Bill and the lack of focused training that can help create competent personnel pool.

Munjal Shah, the Marketing Director at Techno Brain in a previous interview said the lack of a legal and policy framework to govern the industry has been a major hurdle to the development of the sub-sector.

 “The ministry has for the last three years said it is working on a data security law but nothing has come forth to date,” he said.