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In
collaboration with the National Assembly of Kenya, the ICT
Science and Technology Division of the Economic Commission
for Africa (ECA) facilitated 2-day Member of Parliaments (MP)
training workshop on "Empowering MPs for building an Inclusive
Information Society in Kenya" from 8 to 9 December in Nairobi,
Kenya. More than twenty (20) MPs and staff attended the workshop.
The workshop organized under the framework of ECA’s e-Policy
Resource Network for Africa (ePol-Net), established to provide
expertise, guidance and advice to African countries implementing
national e-strategies with support from the Government of
Canada, had two main objectives:
-
enhance awareness and understanding of Kenya’s national
e-strategy
- engage
MPs in discussions on how to actively participate in building
the country information society process through the establishment
of an ICT Committee within the Parliament.
Opening
the workshop, Commissioner of the Parliamentary Service Commission,
Hon. Joseph Kimotho, M.P highlighted the role of Parliament
in the forefront of taking up development issues, including
ICTs. “The crucial importance of ICT in the management and
administration of any parliamentary institution cannot therefore
be taken for granted, particularly in Africa. Parliament,
being the house of the people, must be seen to be taking leadership
in issues that are important for the development of our people.
We must therefore educate our people to accept and to be ready
to use technology with an aim of being efficient, effective,
productive, transparent and accountable”, he said. He also
used the occasion to announce the upcoming launch of the Assembly’s
website and the paperless office initiative.
Dr. Juma Okech, Director of e-Government, Office of the President
indicated that an ICT policy was lacking in Kenya and heralded
the workshop as the right entry point as MPs were responsible
for policy-making in Kenya. The objectives of the workshop
were outlined by the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly,
Mr. Peter Charles Owino Omolo, who suggested that the MPs
use this opportunity to start the process of setting up an
ICT Committee in the National Assembly.
For more information please contact Thierry
Amoussougbo. |
