Challenges Facing Integration and Use of ICT in the Management of County Governments in Kenya
Abstract
Kenyan's Vision 2030 identifies ICT as one of the core drivers of Kenya's growth and development strategy to becoming a middle income country by the year 2030. Vision 2030stresses access to ICTs based on its potential to increase productivity and raise the competitiveness of local businesses in a knowledge-based economy. ICT integration has not reached its full potential and utilization in the County governments. This has been brought about by a number of factors. Poor and inadequate ICT facilities, poor levels of computer literacy and ICT skills, poor level of awareness of internet facilities among policy makers, government officials and the ruling class in general and minimum involvement of academic institutions in network building are challenges mitigating against the use of ICTs. The Purpose of this study is to investigate on Challenges Facing Integration and Use of ICT in the management of County Governments in Kenya. The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes according to the global and local contexts. From the literature reviewed, the study revealed that it is an area worthy of doing research. The study found out that ICT integration has and continues to be a challenge in many county governments. Its integration is yet to reach its full potential and its utilization is limited. The literature review highlighted several factors that affect ICT integration for service delivery. These challenges include lack of enough ICT infrastructure, lack of staff capacity in terms of trainings, staff attitude towards technology adoption, poor government regulation policies and lack of management commitment. Based on the findings and conclusions, the study recommends that County Government staff should be trained and retrained in application of ICT for improved integration and use of ICT in the management of the County activities. To sustain this, there is a need for rethinking education as a whole to produce the future ICT integration implementers.
Key words: ICT integration, staff capacity, ICT infrastructure, management commitment, County Government
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