Key ICT Conference kicks off in Mombasa tomorrow

Monday, April 18, 2011...Key ICT industry players in the country and top government policy makers converge in Mombasa starting today for a three-day conference to help map out ways to speed up connectivity across the country as a way of promoting transparent, efficient and effective delivery of public services.

Dubbed Connected Kenya, the conference will discuss among other things the latest technologies in the ICT sector and how the government and the private sector can adopt technology to improve service delivery, reduce expenditure. 
Themed Innovating for the Citizen, the conference will also explore ways in which technology can be used to deploy services closer to the people, especially those in rural and remote areas.

The annual conference, now in its third year, will be officially opened by Information and Communications Minister Samuel Poghisio on Tuesday next week.

A brainchild of the Kenya ICT Board and officially sponsored by telecoms operator Safaricom, Connected Kenya seeks to discuss major industry issues among them internet penetration, the role of government in ensuring increased uptake of ICT services and how public-private partnership can be used to drive the two.

It is argued that automation and digitization of key services by the government will improve efficiency and engender accountability especially in the public sector.

During the conference, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore is expected deliver a keynote address on the topic 'The Future of Innovation' which will among other things show what innovation in technology could do for Kenya in the next decade.

Also expected to make presentations during the conference are Information and Communications PS Dr. Bitange Ndemo, CCK Director General Eng Charles Njoroge, Kenya ICT Board CEO Paul Kukubo among others.

Other sponsors of the high profile conference are IBM, Orange Telkom, Equity Bank, Seven Seas, SAP, Huawei Technologies, CIO East Africa and Homeboyz.
"Safaricom is delighted at the opportunity to sponsor and be part of this great initiative as it underscores the critical role of ICT in attaining the development objectives articulated in the Vision 2030," said Mr Collymore while commenting on the conference.

He said Safaricom would play its rightful role in ensuring penetration of telecommunication services into the Kenyan market and bridging the digital divide through its extensive ICT infrastructure across the country.

A host of government Permanent Secretaries, parastatal CEOs and CIOs and private sector leaders are expected at the conference in their capacity as major decision makers in the ICT buying function in their respective dockets.

Monday, April 18, 2011...Key ICT industry players in the country and top government policy makers converge in Mombasa starting today for a three-day conference to help map out ways to speed up connectivity across the country as a way of promoting transparent, efficient and effective delivery of public services.

Dubbed Connected Kenya, the conference will discuss among other things the latest technologies in the ICT sector and how the government and the private sector can adopt technology to improve service delivery, reduce expenditure. 
Themed Innovating for the Citizen, the conference will also explore ways in which technology can be used to deploy services closer to the people, especially those in rural and remote areas.

The annual conference, now in its third year, will be officially opened by Information and Communications Minister Samuel Poghisio on Tuesday next week.

A brainchild of the Kenya ICT Board and officially sponsored by telecoms operator Safaricom, Connected Kenya seeks to discuss major industry issues among them internet penetration, the role of government in ensuring increased uptake of ICT services and how public-private partnership can be used to drive the two.

It is argued that automation and digitization of key services by the government will improve efficiency and engender accountability especially in the public sector.

During the conference, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore is expected deliver a keynote address on the topic 'The Future of Innovation' which will among other things show what innovation in technology could do for Kenya in the next decade.

Also expected to make presentations during the conference are Information and Communications PS Dr. Bitange Ndemo, CCK Director General Eng Charles Njoroge, Kenya ICT Board CEO Paul Kukubo among others.

Other sponsors of the high profile conference are IBM, Orange Telkom, Equity Bank, Seven Seas, SAP, Huawei Technologies, CIO East Africa and Homeboyz.
"Safaricom is delighted at the opportunity to sponsor and be part of this great initiative as it underscores the critical role of ICT in attaining the development objectives articulated in the Vision 2030," said Mr Collymore while commenting on the conference.

He said Safaricom would play its rightful role in ensuring penetration of telecommunication services into the Kenyan market and bridging the digital divide through its extensive ICT infrastructure across the country.

A host of government Permanent Secretaries, parastatal CEOs and CIOs and private sector leaders are expected at the conference in their capacity as major decision makers in the ICT buying function in their respective dockets.