Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has hinted at digitising the recruitment of security forces.
Mudavadi said that the first applications by applicants will be done online as the government continues digitising services.
“We want to do away with the situation where you bring hundreds of people to run and the jobs go to those who paid money,” he said.
“All we need is to ensure that technology reaches everyone.”
Mudavadi was speaking Information and Communication Technologies Digital Hub and Digital Economy Conference at Kakamega County Polytechnic on Monday.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Margaret Nyambura, broadcasting PS Edward Kisiangani, higher education PS Dr Beatrice Inyangala, Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa and his deputy Ayub Savula were present.
He said that the Digital Hubs are vital entry points to the upcoming digital economy.
Mudavadi said that the Kenya Kwanza government had onboarded over 17,692 government services on the e-citizen up from only 354 services that were on the platform when it came to power.
This said, will cut down on the leakage of revenue and spur development. Mudavadi said that the government will also digitise Occurrence Books (OB) in police stations to enhance effectiveness and accountability.
“This will end situations where someone can disappear with a page from the OB to frustrate justice,” he said.
He said that digitisation of the OB will enhance reporting of Gender Based Violence (GBV) by victims.
He said that some GBV victims feared reporting the cases to police for fear of being asked numerous questions. He said that leveraging technology will improve service delivery.
Nyambura said the number of learners who access the Internet has risen from 20 per cent to 80 per cent since the commencement of the connectivity.
“Kenyans should contextualise the Digital economy and use it to development innovation solutions,” he said.
Mudavadi said the government is on course to establish 1,450 digital hubs across the country.
He said the government is accelerating internet connectivity to ensure that each technical and vocational education training institution (TVET) is connected to fibre.
This is with an aim to fast-track the establishment of 1,450 digital hubs across the country under the pillar of digital superhighway and creative economy anchored on the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Mudavadi said this initiative aims at stimulating the creation of jobs and other livelihood opportunities, especially for the youth, adding that 274 digital hubs have already been established in TVET institutions across the country.
“The digital hub model will ensure that everyone within the coverage area, including students, researchers and small business operators, has access to the Wi-Fi that it provides. In addition to the fiber internet itself, having wi-fi coverage across the entire Hub ensures anyone can bring their device to get connected,” explained Mudavadi.
He said the development of high-end “Jitume ICT Digital Hubs” are vital entry points to the emerging digital economy that is transforming the lives of citizens throughout the country.
Technical and Vocational Education Training Institutes (TVETs) are the key beneficiaries of these groundbreaking initiatives being implemented by Konza Technopolis Development Authority under the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy.
“The free internet provided in these hubs enables our youth to acquire digital skills and connect to global online learning and e-commerce resources. Access to reliable power, either from the national grid or solar systems, is critical to maximize the impact of these hubs on the local communities,” added Mudavadi.
He further explained that the hubs are important users of the fibre optic that the Government has laid across the country.
“The Government has practically demonstrated that leveraging digital technologies enhances efficiency and stimulates opportunities for socioeconomic transformation,” said Mudavadi.