Ministry switches all operations to digital platform to save costs

ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i speaks during a recent function.  [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By JAMES MBAKA

Kenya: The ministry of Information Communication and Technology has rolled out a major initiative to drive all its operations on digital platforms in a bid to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i the move would significantly cut on paperwork costs and soon do away with manual filing system.

The new initiative will also reduce by half the rent for space hired for storage of all government files by the end of next year.

“We must lead from the front in stopping to work the analogue way but rather digitalising our operations to improve customer satisfaction,” Dr Matiang’i .

Matiang’i said the ministry had already adopted, as a policy, the digitalisation of all its internal meetings within all departments with strict instructions that minutes for all meetings should be kept in softcopy.

 “We do not want to see people walking into meetings with agenda on papers or recording minutes on papers. Every one must carry an Ipad and those found making photocopies would be charged at a fee,” Matiang’i said

He revealed that the new policy aims at cutting down on huge expenditure on procurement of papers, files, photocopiers and printers.

“Once we succeed by at least reducing the costs by at least half and making sure that most of our department’s operations are automated, it will be easier to track the movement of information across departments on the digital platform,” said Matiang’i.

He, however, noted that classified information would continue to be dispensed through manual letters as is the tradition of governments across the world over.

He said the ministry had finalised the development of the master government domain, complete with new e-mailing system, for purposes of rebranding the government in conjunction with Brand Kenya Board.

“We will soon ban the use of yahoo or gmail when transacting Government business. All outgoing and incoming emails would soon be through the government officials domain to give our communications the image of the Government,” he said