This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
On October 16, 2019, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos unveiled an innovative data desk, an ICT platform that enables residents to monitor ongoing projects in real-time and access information on all county departments.
The data desk, established in collaboration with the World Bank and Open Institute, a non-governmental organisation based in Nairobi, uses data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and other agencies to facilitate better planning of development projects based on the needs in every ward.
According to Governor Tolgos, the initiative will result in improved planning as data will be easily available. "We have been carrying out public participation and residents have been proposing projects, but there was no data to show available projects and guide priorities," Mr Tolgos said during the launch in Iten.
As part of the county's commitment to the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a global reform movement that champions public participation in project identification and implementation, the data desk will enable residents to access all data on the county, including health, water, agriculture, and education statistics, among other services at the click of a button.
Co-founder and CEO of Open Institute Al Kags praised the initiative, stating that the data desk will help the county overcome governance challenges. Elgeyo Marakwet is among six counties, including Baringo, Makueni, Kilifi, and Taita Taveta, that are establishing the open data portal.
