ICT AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN KENYA

1. ICT AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN KENYA Winnie V. Mitullah DISCUSSION NOTES ROSKILDE, 7th OCT 2010

2. KEY POINTS • Characteristics of Good Governance (GG) • E-Government (E-Gov) and E-Governance • Relationship between E-Gov and GG • Outcome Indicators of IFMIS on Participation • Outcome Indicators of IFMIS on Transparency • Local Authorities (LAs) in Kenya - Local Government Reform Programme (LGRP) • Operation of IFMIS in Kenya LAs • Outcome of IFMIS in Kenya • Concluding Remarks

3. Defining E-Government and E-Governance (Ndou 2004) • E-Administration: administration or government using ICT in order to relate its various departments and digitize its internal operations via `automation and computerisation of administrative tasks • E-Citizens and E-Services: e-Government applications that enable online access to government information and knowledge and deliver automated services • E-Society: provision of a platform that facilitates interactions between government actors and civil society

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE (GG) (UNDP 2002) • Participation • Rule of law • Transparency • Responsiveness • Consensus orientation • Equity • Effectiveness and efficiency • Accountability • Strategic vision

5. Relations between E-Gov & GG • Positive Correlation: • Saves cost, improves quality, response time and access to services (ADB, 2003) • Improves efficiency, and effectiveness of public administration ( Pacific Council, 2002) • Increases transparency in administration, reduces corruption and increases political participation (Seifert & Bonham, 2003) • Makes Governments more competitive (OECD, 2003)

6. Relationship between E-Gov & GG • Negative Correlation • e-government initiatives either fail or fall short of expected outcomes (Gartner Group 2002) • Face technical and organisational challenges (Saxena, 2005) • Fail either totally or partially in achieving objectives despite initial success (Heeks, 2003) • Lack of an evaluation framework and isolated studies

7. Outcome Indicators of IFMIS on Participation • Working definition: stakeholders participation in LA decision making processes • E-administration: increased participation of staff in LA decision making and programme implementation • E-Services: increased gender participation in service access; increased involvement of stakeholders • E-Society: improved interactions with stakeholders; inclusivity

8. Outcome Indicators of IFMIS on Transparency • Definition: full disclosure of information, presentation of information in an easy and accessible format; free access to LA operations and information by stakeholders (SH) E-Administration: • degree of access and understanding of e-governance policy and strategy by SH • Extent to which LA business processes and information are clear and accessible to SH • Degree of visibility and tractability of LA internal operations • Extent to which LAs share information

9. Outcome Indicators of IFMIS on Transparency Cont. • E-Service: • Public access to pertinent information and services • Degree of easy for citizens to find/access procedures to follow in order to request and receive services • Extent to which citizens can read and understand the language by which information and services are presented • Degree of easy for citizens to post comments, questions, complaints regarding service delivery

10. Outcome Indicators of IFMIS on Transparency Cont. • E-Service • Response rate to citizens comments, questions and complaints • Degree of availability of government official documents as electronic resources • Extent of availability of public servants profile

11. Local Authorities in Kenya (LAs) • Composed of Municipal, City, Town and County Councils • Several challenges: • Service Delivery • Financial management • Institutional and legal framework • Human Resource Capacity • Managing rapid growth • Has attracted a lot of criticism

12. Local Government Reform Programme (LGRP) • Began in 1999 • Objectives: • Rationalisation of central – local fiscal relations - LATF • Improving financial management - IFMIS • Improving service delivery- decentralisation • Strengthening citizen participation - LASDAP

13. IFMIS IN LAs in Kenya • Generates a series of operational and management reports for monitoring finances • Revenue mobilisation • Management of payroll • Billing and collection of revenue • Expenditure controls • Filling and easy retrieval of information • Hardly half the 175 LAs covered

14. OUTCOME OF IFMIS IN KENYA • Participation: Application not effected, under consideration in two councils - attribution • Transparency: largely achieved, especially in e-administration • Interaction within and across departments • Heads of departments able to access information easily but through secretaries • Revenue collection improved through efficient processing of rates, fees and charges

15. CONCLUDING REMARKS • Potential of E-Gov and E-Governance • Outcome indicators not fully developed • Relies on being fed with accurate information • IFMIS supported by central government • Advisors and experts located at the central government • Limitation of infrastructure • Human resource management • Reorganisation of government threat to IFMIS