Do local software developers need support from ICT board?

It is not easy being Paul Kukubo, CEO of the Kenya ICT Board. He is expected to ensure that the government makes the right technology decisions and at the same time keep the local and international software developers and vendors happy.

The international software giants like Oracle, SAP and Microsoft pride themselves on state-of-the-art research facilities and technical support and software that improves efficiency. The local developers, on the other hand, complain that the government does not give opportunities to the local industry to develop.

In a recent assignment, the board was asked to lead the digitization process of the Ministry of Lands, a daunting task, given that we do not want a repeat of the debacle at the Kenya Ports Authority. The MD had to be fired after the US$7 million Kwatos system failed miserably.

But the main question is whether the board has a responsibility to give the digitization software development contract to local developers. Can the developers get a chance to prove themselves?

Yes, government requirements stipulate that the tender for software supply has to be advertised, and I hope the response will be good. But the board has been professing faith in the local software industry and expressing the intention to support local efforts.

I think its time to test that faith.