Ministry of Lands digitization puts ICT board to test

The Kenya ICT Board has been chosen to lead the Ministry of Lands digitization process, testing the board's ability to undertake the government's digitization and incorporate local technical providers.

The board has the capacity and technical expertise to engage different consultants and ensure that the automation process is efficient and effective, said P.K Kahuho, the ministry's deputy commissioner.

The Ministry of Lands hopes to develop an integrated land management plan that allows the public to search and track processes online, explained ICT Board CEO Paul Kukubo.

The public will be interested to know the time line for acquiring a title after paying the initial fee and tracking that process online, instead of visiting the ministry each day to follow up, said Kwame Shiroya, an ICT Board program assistant who is working on the digitization process.

The ministry has set up a team of experts in various fields to undertake business process mapping before inviting bids for software and other technical services. The board, however, has not yet decided whether the software providers will be local or international.

"The software components have not been identified, though it will be customized to suit the needs of the ministry and the public," said Shiroya. "But I am sure we have coders locally who can provide the software needed. I am sure they will respond to the tender once it is advertised."

The Kenya ICT Board was established to market the country's IT industry and advise the government on various digitization processes while representing the interests of local techies.