Kenya’s newly established COVID-19 ICT Advisory Committee has been met with mixed response by locals.

Kenya’s ICT Ministry has established the COVID-19 ICT Advisory Committee to integrate ICT in the fight against COVID-19.

A gazette notice issued by Cabinet Secretary for ICT Joe Mucheru stated the role of the newly established Committee will be to assess how ICT can support efforts to combat the virus, including to develop and implement a framework for identifying supporting and scaling local technology.

An excerpt from the notice reads: “To establish an enabling environment that will stimulate economic development through ICTs and increase digital employment by supporting enterprises, workers, investments and skills development.”

The Committee’s mandate is valid for six months.

The Committee comprises several locally renowned ICT professionals including Mercy Wanjau, Peter Njonjo, Ory Okolloh, Hilda Moraa, Fernado Wangila, Kevid Atibu, Joseph Sitienei, Shikoh Gitau and Mahmoud Noor.

Members are recognised for their contribution to the country’s ICT sector.

Peter Njonjo, is the CEO of Twiga Foods, Ory Okolloh worked at Omidyar Network and Google while Hilda Moraa is the CEO of Pezesha.

Fernado Wangila is the head of ICT at the National Transport and Safety Authority and Mercy Wanjau, Acting Director General at the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) will serve as Chairperson.

However, the introduction of the organisation has been met with a mixed response from locals, some of whom questioned the need for the Committee at this time and highlighted the lack of response to recommendations by the Blockchain and AI taskforce.

Locals took to social media to express their concern.

Hillary Kitoto

@KitotoHillary

Kenyan government is bewitched with committees and commissions... Everything including who has passed bad air in the parliament you want a commission. Is this a ways of misusing money? Or are these guys doing them for free? I don't get it. Do we have impact to show?

Levi Munyei

@Levimunyei

Waste of Public resources and time on committees that appears to be BUSY but UNPRODUCTIVE.

Peter KymaniFlag of Kenya

@Pettikim

What is the work civil servants under ministry of ICT if they need 'advisory committee'?

Avenues of corruption and misuse of donor money!