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Kenya ICT board partners with varsity for content to fuel county business

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Kenya ICT Board Chief Executive Paul Kukubo (L) with Strathmore University DVC Research Dr George Njenga during an ICT stakeholders breakfast at the Serena Hotel on April 23, 2013

The Kenya ICT board has partnered with Strathmore University to generate content aimed at spurring regional business as the 47 county governments settle in for work.

Under the arrangement, the university’s School of Business will conduct commissioned research, data analysis and reporting based on business opportunities in each county.

“ICT is strongly anchored in business and thus our partnership will complement our initiative to boost entrepreneurship at the county level,” said Kenya ICT Board CEO, Paul Kukubo.

Mr Kukubo said plans were underway to increase digital villages currently standing at 65 to provide over 30, 000 opportunities for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), up from the current 13, 000 by 2017.

“We want Kenyan youths to tap into the increased opportunities brought about by the new devolved government,” said Mr Kukubo.

Strathmore University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Dr. George Njenga said the information generated will be used to interlink all government operations through ICT.

“We want to build on the Kenya Open Data platform to ensure Kenyans not only access information but also manipulate the content for their use,” Dr Njenga told the Business Daily.

The Kenya Open Data website provides key government data to the public via a single online portal with an aim of improving governance and adhering to the Constitution’s provisions.

Dr Njenga said research findings from each county will be used to educate budding entrepreneurs in business practices.

He added that the information provided will help investors get to learn about county opportunities thereby contributing to regional growth.

The move follows the launch of a pilot ICT based incubation program in January which is supported by the government to a tune of Sh134 million ($ 1.6 Million). The project, which runs up to 2016 is funded by the International Development Association (IDA) and seeks to create high impact enterprises aimed at growing Kenya’s economy and creating employment.

The Kenya ICT board reiterated its commitment to support Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero’s initiative to switch to electronic system of payment in all transactions at the City Hall.

This, Dr Kidero had said earlier, would help curb graft cases that have in the past chocked the City Hall.