Nakuru, 16th March, 2025
The Innovation and Digital Economy Sector Working Group (SWG) convened a strategic workshop to strengthen coordination among its three sub-sectors; ICT Infrastructure, Digital Economy and Startups, and Smart Nairobi. The workshop aimed at mobilizing technical and financial resources, improving service delivery, and enhancing sector outcomes.
The SWG deliberations focused on formulating sector policies, reviewing capital projects, assessing Annual Development Plan (ADP) commitments, understanding legal frameworks, analyzing the County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP) ceiling, conducting budget reviews, and developing a comprehensive procurement plan.
County Executive for Innovation and Digital Economy, Mike Gumo, underscoring the sector’s crucial role in Nairobi’s growth, stated, ” This sector is the backbone of Nairobi County. Our focus must be on delivering tangible results that position Nairobi as a leader in digital transformation. This retreat should culminate in a well-structured report, ensuring our sector’s priorities are well-articulated and adequately supported.”
County Chief Officer, Digital Economy and Startups, Sande Oyolo emphasized the need for a unified report across all sub-sectors. “We must scrutinize the CFSP ceiling to determine its fairness and establish a strong case for defending our budget allocations. Additionally, our ICT policies must be streamlined to provide a clear framework for stakeholder partnerships and financial commitments. We need to refine existing drafts and ensure they align with our strategic goals.”
Mr. Oyolo further stressed the importance of reviewing capital projects. “We must evaluate the status of ongoing projects, the funds allocated to them, and the expenditure so far. When we defend our budget, we need clarity on what requires additional funding to ensure successful completion. Reviewing our Annual Development Plan commitments is also crucial in measuring our progress and charting the way forward. When we understand our fiscal boundaries, it will enable us to prioritize projects effectively, ensuring we operate within our means while striving for impactful outcomes.”
He emphasized on the need for strategic prioritization and aligning projects with H.E. Governor Sakaja’s legacy and the sector’s long-term impact. “Our goal should not only be about meeting annual targets but also delivering transformative legacy projects that define this administration’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and service delivery”
County Chief Officer for Smart Nairobi, Wilson Gakuya, underscored the importance of synergy among the three sub-sectors, emphasizing that their success depends on mutual support and collaboration “For us to achieve the goal of a truly Smart Nairobi, we must work as one ecosystem, leveraging technology, data, and innovation across all sub-sectors to improve service delivery and enhance efficiency.”
County Chief Officer for Revenue Administration and Acting Chief Officer, ICT Infrastructure, Tiras Njoroge, stressed the importance of focusing on the sector’s core mandates and maximizing the resources allocated. “It is critical that whatever we do, even within our budgets, aligns with H.E. Governor Sakaja’s manifesto. When our activities reflect the Governor’s commitments to the people of Nairobi, it becomes easier to justify and request additional resources,” he noted.
Mr. Njoroge further urged the sector to adopt a broader perspective in its operations, encouraging innovative thinking and a citizen-centric approach. “We must expand how we think about and approach our work, always remembering that we are serving the entire Nairobi County. Our strategies should be inclusive, forward-looking, and efficient to ensure that we deliver meaningful impact to all residents,” he added.
Sector Working Group Chair and County Director for ICT Infrastructure, Ms. Truphena Ogonda called for a focused approach in project selection, saying, “We have a Zero draft and cost estimates for our planned programs. Now is the time to critically analyze our priorities to ensure our budget reflects our most impactful initiatives.”
Ms. Ogonda further shared that a well-detailed budget ensures accountability and directs every shilling toward initiatives that will advance the sectors’ digital agenda. “This approach allows us to identify financial redundancies and reallocate resources to high-impact projects.”
The retreat underscored the sector’s commitment to innovation-driven service delivery, financial prudence, and the realization of Nairobi’s digital economy ambitions.
In attendance were County Directors; Digital Economy and Startups, Elizabeth Ndung’u, Smart Nairobi, ICT Director, Office of the Governor, Gideon Thande, Legal Advisor, David Oseko, Procurement Officer, John Bosco, Economist, Julius Kibagendi, Budget Officer, Evelyn Ndanu among other IDE County Officers.
Ends/..