Nandi county honoured for embracing technology, open governance

Nandi County government has been voted the best in Africa and the Middle East in embracing digital Technology and open governance.

The county received the prestigious Award in the city of Tallin-Estonia for its dedication to building a transparent and Data-driven government in which information regarding departments can be accessed with the press of a button.

Nandi deputy governor Yulita Mitei received the prestigious trophy of the 2023 Open Government Award in the Digital Technologies category for Africa and the Middle East on behalf of the county government.

The county government working in partnership with Open Institute in 2022 set up a Data desk to help improve decision making by ensuring that emerging issues are solved based on data.

The system ensures that the public and other stakeholders transparently access up-to-date data in various departments of the government.

“Through our open government system, anyone can access various services with a click of a button accurately without any problem because through this we are extremely transparent,” Mitei said.

In 2022, the Nandi county government entered into an MOU with “Open Institute” an NGO to help establish openness in the county government operations.

Governor Stephen Sang and Open Institute founder Al Kags signed the agreement to help the county set up a better data system that encourages transparency to stamp out corruption.

Mitei said citizens are able to access any services digitally and one is able to monitor and comfortably make a follow-up digitally.

Open Institute supported the county through training of its staff and ensured those key departments of the county had up-to-date data.

Departments of Finance, Agriculture, Health and Education are hooked up to the system.

Sang said he was elated by the award and has demonstrated the ability to improve services to the residents in an open and transparent manner.

“We as the county government are deeply humbled by the great stride my government has taken that has ensured openness through embracing of digital technology,” Sang said.

The county has also established a call centre through which the public can place their enquiries including emergency services needed on a press of a button.

Nandi County beat the other 47 counties that had entered the race for the award in digital and openness.

Mitei was accompanied by Nandi County government ICT chief officer Jonathan Misoi.