Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo Urges Counties to Adopt Technology for Improved Public Service

Mombasa—Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo emphasized the critical role of technology in enhancing public service at the county level. Speaking at the County Public Service Board annual convention in Mombasa, Owalo urged counties to adapt to digital advancements in alignment with the government’s broader policy framework in the digital sphere.

According to a new release by Kenya News Agency, Owalo indicated that counties risk becoming obsolete if they do not meet the needs of new global digital systems. He stated that technology can effectively streamline performance management frameworks in counties, which are currently prone to inefficiencies. “Automating performance management systems will be able to discern performance levels and correspondingly incorporate monitoring, evaluation, and reporting frameworks,” said Owalo.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that the adoption of technology will change how public servants in devolved units are evaluated, shifting the focus from processes to outputs and outcomes. He argued that this transformation would align with global trends where organizations have reduced their physical workforce and increased efficiency through the use of advanced technology tools.

In his concluding remarks, Owalo highlighted that a cooperative relationship between the national government and devolved units could position the country as a technological hub, not only in Africa but also internationally.