The Kenyan government is in the process of setting an incubation hub to support local techprenuers in light of its goal to acquire tech solutions to improve its general service delivery. The ICT Ministry backed “White Box” is expected to provide a collection of local based apps and systems as the ministry moves ahead to centralize procurement of IT services by all ministries and state corporations.
Kenya has seen significant growth in the number of homegrown technological innovations in the country, the government is working towards tapping into these solutions.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said the incubation hub will link the innovators with various government agencies. “We are creating a space where you can come, bring your innovation, explain to government experts in whichever sector, something that can be used within government so they will be able to test for you, you see exactly how the product will work and then they will be able to share that report within government then we can see how to absorb,” he said.
White Box will provide training courses for entrepreneurs, identify the most appropriate technology, acquire hands-on experience on working projects and enable them to understand the commercial aspects of businesses. “We have already begun the groundwork, the names are registered now its about implication, getting the right space and that’s already in progress,” he added. He, however, did not reveal how much funding had been set aside for the project.
ICT Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng said the move will ensure the standardization of ICT equipment and minimize the duplication of ICT projects and wastage of resources. “To this end, the ministry is reorganizing the Directorate of ICT so that it realigns it smoothly with this new development without any hiccups,” he said.
The two were speaking during the launch of the Connected Summit 2018 that will for the first time be held in Nairobi at the Bomas of Kenya, which will bring together over 1,000 delegates to discuss emerging technologies such as blockchain, big data and artificial intelligence.