Thika:Kiambu: More than 500 National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) from Kiambu County have received training to enhance their skills in collecting data directly from residents. This initiative aims to assist the government in understanding citizen challenges and improving service delivery.
According to Kenya News Agency, the officers are being equipped with digital skills to gather and transmit information to a centralized government system, aiding analysis and decision-making. The training workshop, held in Thika, was launched by Dr. Masini Ichwara, Director General for Economic Planning, who emphasized the importance of aligning grassroots needs with national planning.
Dr. Ichwara highlighted that many citizens are often unaware of government programs, policies, and services, making it challenging to assess their effectiveness. By collecting data directly from the community, the government hopes to gain insights into local health, education, infrastructure, and other service gaps.
The officers will utilize a specially developed mobile application to collect and transmit information, providing senior government officials with near real-time updates on public service availability and delivery. This digital system will also help identify emerging challenges and enable quicker governmental responses.
This training in Kiambu is part of the second phase of a national initiative covering 25 counties. The first phase included 11 counties, and the final phase will expand the program to the remaining 11 counties, ensuring all 47 counties are involved. The initiative is a collaboration with the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration and the State Department for Economic Planning.
