Kenya will receive assistance from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in establishing a Global Innovation Centre in Nairobi.
The information and communication technologies (ICTs) division of the United Nations intends to work with the Kenyan government on a number of ICT-related projects.
The ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin and Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, agreed to offer technical assistance for the Center’s establishment during their talks.
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On the fringes of the recently concluded World Radiocommunications Conference 2023 (WRC-23) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the ITU made the pledge.
At the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the centre’s construction is already underway. Although CA does not specify the purpose of the Global Innovation Centre, it is still a wise decision to further the nation’s digitization goals.
Kenya was initially elected to the ITU Council in 1982, and it has been a member for approximately 41 years. Kenya has been a consistent participant in the Council over the years, serving on a number of Council Working Groups, bodies within the Union’s three sectors, and other important organisations like the Radio Regulations Board (RRB).
Kenya has established herself as a dependable partner in bringing about digital transformation for her people and the region, earning her a reputation in the ICT sector both locally and internationally.
Over 15,000 government services have been digitalized as part of the government’s digital transformation agenda, which Prof. Kisiang’ani briefed the ITU chief on during the conference. The Transformation Agenda of the Kenya National Digital Masterplan – 2022–2032 highlights technology as a crucial pillar. Actually, a great deal of progress has been made in nationalising vital digital infrastructure.
The government will install over 100,000 km of fibre infrastructure in the next five years, working with the private sector and guided by the ICT Authority. The government claims that this development will improve the provision of services in a number of industries, including agriculture, banking, and health.
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Kenya’s ICT agency suspends CEO
Towards the end of Q3 2023, the Communications Authority (CA), Kenya’s ICT watchdog, suspended Ezra Chiloba, its director-general or CEO. According to the CA, Chiloba attempted to defraud the organisation of KES 25 million ($170,000) through corrupt practices.
An excerpt from the agency’s audit says, “As the accounting officer there was gross misconduct of the process to acquire a mortgage for himself as is demonstrated by disbursement of the loan of KES 25,000,000 to Kitale Hilmost Limited. A company search with the Business Registration Bureau revealed that the seller entity is owned entirely, as the sole shareholder and the sole director, by Ezra Chiloba Simiyu, the director general who is also the buyer in this case. This is reasonably construed to be demonstrative of an intent to defraud the Authority.”
Potential disciplinary action against Chiloba for egregious misconduct—which includes negligence of duty, failure to perform due diligence on transactions, and general misconduct in his office—is highlighted in the CA’s audit report. According to an audit, these problems included clearing employees without checking mortgages, overvaluing properties, and approving his mortgage, all of which put the CA at serious financial risk.
“Disciplinary action on account of gross misconduct is contemplated as the audit indicates that the Director General has fundamentally breached his obligations arising under the contract of service,” the CA said in a statement.