Friday, 4 April, 2025
Committee on Implementation demands swift action on Constituency Digital Hubs๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฅ ๐, ๐๐๐๐
The National Assembly Committee on Implementation has issued a directive to Mr. Yusuf Mbuno, CEO of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Board (NG-CDF), demanding the urgent collation of data on constituencies ready for the establishment of digital hubs.
This move comes amidst growing frustration over the delayed implementation of a crucial House resolution.
The Hon. Raphael Wanjala-led Committee expressed deep concern that the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy's failure to equip existing infrastructure is hindering the government's ambitious digital superhighway program.
Todayโs engagement revealed that numerous constituencies have already invested in constructing innovation hubs, which now stand idle.
"It is unfortunate that this programme has taken too long to be rolled out yet many constituencies have already erected the necessary structures to establish the digital centres. The NG-CDF Board CEO needs to inform us how many centres have been established so far, so we get to engage with the ICT Ministry from a point of information โ, Hon. Wanjala stated.
Embakasi West MP, Hon. Mark Mwenje, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the wasted resources and the disenfranchisement of young people.
โWe had invested in these ICT hubs through NG-CDF with the expectation that the ICT Ministry would to equip them. Theyโre now lying idle, because the Ministry is not committed to equipping themโ, he remarked.
Mandera South MP, Hon. Abdul Haro, warned of potential program collapse if immediate action is not taken.
The Committee had invited ICT Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui and NG-CDF Board CEO, Mr. Mbuno to address the delays, but the PS was unavailable.
The lawmakers also underscored the vital role of the digital economy in job creation and economic growth, urging Mr. Mbuno to ensure inclusivity in hub design.
Vice-Chairperson Hon. Rose Museo stressed accessibility for people with disabilities, while Mombasa County MP, Hon. Zamzam Mohamed, and Lamu West MP, Hon. Stanley Muthama, advocated for culturally and religiously sensitive designs, particularly in regions with specific gender-segregation needs.
"Hon. Chair, I want to urge Mr. Mbuno to ensure that in Constituencies that are predominantly Muslim, there are different structures for both young men and women, in line with our cultural and religious expectationsโ, Hon. Zamzam stated.
Turkana East MP, Nicholas Ngikor emphasized on the need to ensure that the hubs are kitted with internet connectivity and consistent supply of power. Igembe North MP, Julius Taitumu on his part emphasized that the NG-CDF Board ensures that the tendering process for the development of ongoing centres is conducted above board.
While addressing the Membersโ concerns, Mr. Mbuno assured them that the issues they had raised relating to the model of the structures had exhaustively been deliberated with the Ministry of ICT, adding that the Board was keen to effect them.
He told the Committee that following the identification of NG-CDF by the ICT Ministry as a partner in providing funding support for the establishment of Digital Hubs in the constituencies, the House Committee on NG-CDF had last year convened a meeting of stakeholders including the ICT Ministry to deliberate on guidelines for the establishment of the hubs.
โHon. Chair, these guidelines have now provided clarity on issues that were hitherto not clear. The NG-CDF Committees will be responsible for site identification, resource allocation for construction and payment of recurrent costs for utilities and maintenance of the hubs inline with the NG-CDF Actโ, he explained.
โOn the other hand, the ICT Ministry and agencies under it, will be responsible for providing policy guidelines for implementation of the digital hubs programme, recruitment of ICT resource staff, provision of bandwidth, technical support and digital servicesโ, he added.
According to Mr. Mbuno, the yet to be established hubs are set to not only spark the acceleration of the digital economy, but will also ease access to government services, most of which are now offered online.