KNA debuts trial version of its website at the Broadcast, Film and Music Africa conference

Citizens had a taste of the trial version (beta version) of the Kenya News Agency (KNA) eCommerce website in the recently held Broadcast, Film and Music Africa conference. This is in an effort to create awareness before the actual launch of the website in December 2015.

Key target audience were Film and documentary makers, Broadcasters and producers, Photographers, Screen writers and Creative industry who will serve as potential clients for KNA by buying licences to reuse images for commercial use.

More than 80 people signed up to be part of the test audience from Kenya and other countries such as Uganda and Tanzania. This was a clear indication that citizens are eager to experience the rich collection of digitized images that are a national treasure.

This comes a few weeks after reports of a Ksh300 million ($3 million) World Bank funded project to assist the Kenya News Agency in getting its website up surfaced.

The KNA Deputy Director, Esther Wanjau said that all historical content with the agency will be available online in a user-friendly e-commerce web portal.  Speaking at a briefing session on the progress of project after hosting World Bank officials led by Senior ICT Policy Specialist, Arleen Cannata Seed, Ms Wanjau said the web portal will be officially launched in December.

Ms Seed said the digitisation of KNA historical material is important to preserve Kenya’s history for future generations. “Digitisation is extremely important for us to be able to support Kenya’s national heritage in this manner because we believe your assets (photographs, video, news stories and features) are extremely valuable contribution to development not just of your country and the region but are valuable contribution to the world as a whole”, said Ms. Seed.

She praised KNA for being at the forefront in the region to follow the footstep of renowned agencies in the world to automate and digitize its historical data. “This is where the world is moving. Other news agencies have done it,” said Ms Seed.