Smart Gov Summit: Shaping Kenya’s Digital Future

“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” is an (in)famous quote by former American President, John F. Kennedy. A quote many Kenyans do not wish to contemplate in the current atmosphere of relentless taxation and the face of the rising cost of living expenses. However, there is good news too.

Did you know it is expected that $100 billion will be invested in Smart Government technologies by 2025? That the global Smart Government market growth in 2022-2023 was $33.69 billion? Being a citizen in Kennedy’s equation could also be a powerful reminder that citizenship is not a passive status, but an active responsibility. That means we can hold the government accountable, and make our country a better place. We do our part, and the government gets to do theirs.

Here is where the Smart Gov Summit 2024 comes into play. The inaugural Smart Gov Summit happened last year, coming round for its second wind. The brainchild of dx⁵’s Co-Founder & Chairman, Harry Hare is a gathering of government officials, digital technology geniuses, representatives from international organisations, the private sector and a generous dollop of citizenry.

Hare perfectly captured the essence of the summit by saying “Africa’s digital revolution is surging, fueled by skyrocketing internet access and mobile connectivity. To harness this wave of innovation, the Smart Government Summit emerges as a crucial platform. This pivotal event bridges the gap between cutting-edge digital technologies and government operations. It fosters a unique confluence for discussing the integration of digital solutions in government, shaping the future of e-governance in Africa.”

Technology For Smarter Governance

Technology means recognition that innovation and modernisation are critical. Making it vital when it comes to improving operations and enhancing service delivery to citizens. Tom Nyamorata, Secretary Administration, Executive Office of the President observes that “The Smart Government initiative is a proactive and strategic blueprint essential for realising the ambitious goal outlined in the Kenya National Digital Master Plan.” He added, “This initiative is designed to revolutionise government services, and delivery through the integration of digital technologies, thereby enhancing service accessibility, efficiency, and citizen satisfaction.”

The two-day event is not just packed with conversation. It is designed to collate and curate perspectives in a bid to share them with the freshly minted Smart Government Department. Themed Reimagining Governance: Agile. Open. Inclusive – Harnessing The Power Of AI For Transformative Change, it will be held on 24-25 July 2024 at the JW Marriott Nairobi. In partnership with the Smart Government Department, ActionLab, space.ai, and the African eDevelopment Resource Centre, it will zoom in on AI and machine learning in governance, talent and training, digital transformation in the public sector, cybersecurity and data protection, down to decision-making with data and analytics and digital literacy and inclusion.

“We see the Smart Government Summit as a vital platform designed to bring together senior government officials, development partners, and private sector players to showcase and deliberate on the latest trends, strategies, and approaches for building a Smart Government. It provides us with an opportunity to highlight some of the initiatives that the government at both national and county levels is undertaking to ensure an inclusive approach to Smart Governance,” said Nyamorata.

Keeping Pace With The Digital World

Admittedly, we are starting slow. Amb Thigo says “We still want to enact legislation that wants to go through parliamentary reading for three years. Meanwhile, technology changed. If you still want to enact artificial intelligence (AI) legislation, in the last three months we’ve had three new iterations of AI. If you’re the one who’s still doing an AI bill in January, I’m sorry, it’s got to change. In fact, there’s something coming in the next two months.”

And achieving this vision of a smart Kenya requires more than just government efforts. It demands collaboration and investment in building the digital infrastructure and supporting the initiatives that will drive said transformation inspired by an increasingly tech-savvy citizenry. “We live in a borderless world. You’re catering to highly mobile people. They want to access services everywhere. And sometimes, from the comfort of their homes. Citizens are talking to us about 21st-century technologies. We are listening to them on 20th-century tech and providing 19th-century solutions, said Ambassador Philip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology.”

At the end of the day, to build trust with citizens, the government “Must be able to meet their needs and their demands in a way that is efficient and effective. A Kenyan citizen is not one person. They’re different people. That’s what we need to figure out. This is what makes Smart Gov challenging. Because citizens in Kenya are unique,” asserts Amb Thigo. Homegrown solutions for Kenyans, by Kenyans, and not a copy-paste of another country’s vision. It is our imagination and new rules of engagement that will counter this. Alongside attending the Smart Gov Summit 2024 be it as a sponsor, attendee, or speaker.

Not only that. You get to be part of something bigger that Nyamorata aptly concludes. “I believe honestly, wholeheartedly, fervently, that smart government is what will change the frontier of how government does business in particular fighting corruption.”