Key factors in the implementation of digital village centers in Kenya: a case of Kenya information and communication technology board

Abstract

The objective of the study was indentifying the key factors influencing the implementation of Digital villages' project and to establish the extent of implementation of the Centers. The study was a case study of the Kenya Information and Communication Technology Board (KICTB) and a questionnaire was developed and. administered by the researcher to identified respondents within the Management of KICTB and the Digital Villages center managers. Data was obtained from the questions received from the respondents. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics analysis more particularly the mean, standard deviation and the range. It was established that several factors affect the implementation of Digital village's centers. Key factors are summarized into the following categories capabilities; attitudes; resources; context; access and operations. The access factors which include lack of network infrastructure; poor IT infrastructure; inadequate software and hardware; and remote location access which can be grouped as the primary factors are crucial to the successful implementation of the Digital village's centers. Resources factors are the secondary factors and include lack of money and underestimation of the time and effort needed to be spent in implementing IT solutions and applications are key to successful implementation but not crucial. Following these findings, it was recommended that; a) The Kenya ICT Board needs to recruit adequate and qualified trainers to pass on the knowledge needed to manage a successful Digital Village center. b) The Government of Kenya is"encouraged to invest in creating initiatives and an enabling environment for investors to create the needed IT network infrastructure in the whole country to provide access to internet and ICT. c) Strategies need to be put in place to create financial products that are custom made for the ICT sector only. This will assist the entrepreneurs interested in setting up digital villages get access to required resources and funds. d) Future research is needed to investigate the key factors influencing the implementation of digital villages after the KICTB has implemented a center in each constituency in Kenya. Research can also be conducted for the digital villages centers set up by private sector and other public sector institutions.