The linkage will enable the State to administer, transfer and use data in a centralised fashion. Such data may include land titles, an electronic voters roll and the companies register. Eventually the voters roll could enable balloting on-line and eliminate the long queues at polling centres. In a "framework of intent" signed by the two governments, possible areas of cooperation include acceleration of automation and integration of information and records and the filing of electronic returns and claims.
Further cooperation is expected in developing and implementing web-based databases and achieving electronic administration of businesses.
At a news conference yesterday, Information and Communications minister Raphael Tuju said he had led a delegation of senior Government officials to Canada to learn that country's e-government experience in the provincial state of New Brunswick and the federal government in Ottawa.
The delegation wanted to learn best practices in implementing e-government strategy in Kenya.
Other objectives were to identify areas of cooperation and partnerships on e-government roll-out in Kenya and assistance in implementing the strategy.
The Government intends to incorporate the private sector, as in the model being used in Brunswick, where it has worked successfully. It is being replicated in other countries, like Britain, Malaysia and Mexico.
During the Press conference, Canadian e-government engineer Michael Turner was introduced as among those who will be helping Kenya to implement the strategy.
Already various Government ministries have acquired electronic mail as part of the e-government strategy.
Autor: Geoffrey Irungu
Quelle: AllAfrica, 22.09.2004
