4.3 Integrated Information
Infrastructure
nologies) and ensure integration of ICT infrastructure deployment
with other infrastructure deployments while sharing critical infrastructure. In addition, hotspots (using unlicensed spectrum) will be
implemented in universities, colleges, schools, hospitals, town centres, bus stations, and other public spaces. This would enhance affordable access, especially by the youth.
‘The Government
will fast-track
the deployment
of broadband in
under-served
areas using
appropriate
technologies’
Strategy S2: Develop, implement and institutionalize a cyber security
management framework. The Government will facilitate the establishment of appropriate institutional and legal framework to safeguard infrastructure, information and applications. The Government
will also implement the Cyber Security Master Plan. This will boost
ICT enabled economic development by providing trust and confidence
to users of available services such as the national payment gateway,
electronic commodity exchange and general cyber security.
Strategy S3: Consolidate, develop and implement shared infrastructure and services management policies, standards and structures.
There is an urgent need to consolidate all currently deployed Government ICT infrastructure, identifying deployment gaps and implementing shared management policies and internationally recognized standards. These policies, standards and structures will be used to guide
the roll out of Government shared services.
The government’s National Broadband Strategy articulates in greater
detail strategies towards the realization of infrastructure and connectivity in the country.
The flagship projects to be implemented before 2017/2018 are:
a) Providing affordable and quality
broadband infrastructure to underserved areas.
b) Creating school
and health
networks that p r o vide broadband connectivity to all schools and health centres, respectively.
c) Providing quality and secure ICT infrastructure to all National and
County Government offices, while ensuring maximum sharing of ICT
infrastructure
d) Making Mombasa an international internet exchange point
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4.3.1 Setting the Context
The information infrastructure foundation concerns itself with the
creation, continuous update, accessibility, and archiving of public information and other public accessible information in a manner that
eases accessibility, communication, dissemination and processing to
promote public service delivery, transparency, accountability, and enable the country to transition to a knowledge-based society.
Currently data and information is created and stored in disparate data
formats and media, with the bulk being paper based. As a result, such
information is difficult to access electronically. Additionally, in most
instances, each Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) has its own
data set concerning a similar entity. For example, when a citizen visits
a hospital, the hospital stores the medical information, which is not
available to another hospital. This is critical especially during emergencies, which can even lead to loss of life. The scenario is replicated
across various sectors resulting in fragmented data sets, duplication
of effort, wasted resources and inconsistent data. Similarly, there is
lack of data linkages between various data sets in instances where
the need for cross reference is required for a service to be completed.
For example, when a citizen is applying for utilities such as electricity
or water, there is a need to provide KRA PIN number which would be
made easily available if the two data sets were linked via a data sharing mechanism.
‘Kenya has
made steps
towards
e-Government
services and
enhancing
transparency by
hosting some of
the data on the
open data
gateway.’
Citizens are also obligated to reproduce documentation of personal information, which is already in the custody of other Government
agencies. On the other hand, the Government does not benefit from
intelligence information that other public agencies have, for various
enforcement programs.
Kenya has made steps towards e-Government services and enhancing
transparency by hosting some of the data on the open data gateway.
Indeed, Kenya is ranked 119 in the 2012 UN e-Government ranking ,
upwards from 124 in 2010. However, updating the available information that is online and provision of e-services is neither continuous,
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