IFLA/GIOPS-FAIFE-ECA
Seminar on the strategic
management of Government
Information in Africa
Access and Management of
Government Information in Africa:
the case of Kenya
Factors hindering
effective management of
Government Information
in Kenya
By Nerisa Kamar
Research Librarian
Egerton University- Kenya
Government information
(definition)
National resource that enhances social,
economic and political power
Uses of Government
Information
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•
•
•
•
•
Research & development
Policy making
Poverty eradication
Government budgetary
Planning
Decision making
Information Management
Application of management to acquire,
organize, control, disseminate and use
information.
Effective and efficient management of
information as a national resource.
Timely access to pertinent, comprehensive
and reliable information.
Value, quality, ownership, use and security
of information for efficiency and cost
reduction.
Information Management – Aim
To increase the availability and
accuracy of current government
data and information whenever and
wherever it is needed.
Information and Governance
Governance- process of interaction between
the public sector and the government
It involves:
 establishment and operations of social
institutions
 Access to available government information for
transparency and decision making.
 Provision of framework for political,social and
economic development
 Fair allocation & distribution of government
resources.
Information and Governance
 Improvement in the administration of
government and delivery of services to the
public
 Efficiency, availability, transparency and
accountability of government information
systems.
 Effective infrastructure for creating,
transmitting, storing and disseminating
government information
 Production and distribution of government
information .
Aim of information and
governance
Economic, political and social use
Sources of Government
Information in Kenya
Office of the president
Office of the vice-president and the ministry
for Home Affairs
Government ministries
Public service commission
Electoral commission
Exchequer and audit department
National assembly
State law office
The judiciary
Types of Government
publications
The compilation of government information
is done by the :
Central Bureau of Statistics
Government press
Ministries and departments
Types:
Kenya Gazette
Monthly Economic
Reviews
Development plans
Government Code
of Regulations
Statistical
Abstracts
 Sessional papers
 Annual Report
Directory of
Diplomatic Cops and
International
Organizations
Teachers Code of
Regulations
General Publications
Laws of Kenya
Selected Applied
Legislation
Classification of Government
Information in Kenya
Classification is per systems put in place by
the generating ministry/department
Secret –not accessible to the public
Top secret – access to public determined by
creating department/ministry
Confidential
Public records
HINDERING FACTORS TO
EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF
GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
1. Lack of comprehensive national
information policy
 Apart from the un-comprehensive NIP, the
existing sectoral policies (public libraries- KNLS
Board Act, the Public Archives Act, the Books
and Newspaper Act, the Copyright Act, the
Industrial Property Act, the Science and
Technology Act, the Museums Act, the
University Acts and the educational act) are not
comprehensive enough.
Other policies include district focus
circulation No 1/86 on district development
information publications and documentation
centres. This has not been effectively
implemented.
Results of un-comprehensive NIP
 Irregular publications of government titles
 Poor bibliographic details and bureaucracy in
acquisition of government materials.
This has been enhanced by:
Lack/poor physical structures (computers,
telephones, national libraries)
Classified government information
Poor information policies and infrastructure (legal
deposit law)
2. Poor ICT infrastructure
Poor ICT policy and regulation framework
Technology dispersion and disparities through
out the country
Inaccessible complimentary infrastructure and
services (electricity, telephone, data services
and finance)
3. Unqualified manpower
 Inadequate human resource capability in
information centres that govern &
disseminate government information (where
information tools and products are available,
there is no adequate manpower to implement
& execute)
 Unmotivated manpower due to poor incentives
i.e. they get neither a ‘carrot” nor a “stick”
(no rewards no punishment)
4. Information illiteracy
. This is the inability to recognize and
information need and/or to find appropriate
information from available sources.
 Low literacy level
 Poor reading culture (Kenyans read for a noble course e.g.
to pass examinations).
 Where as Kenyans have basic literacy skills in vernacular
languages, most government information is presentation in
English.
 Lack of information skills thus inability to evaluate
information channels
5. Poor remuneration
Poor pay to civil servants
Parallel jobs
Parallel business
Demoralize staff
6. Weak Information Professional
Association
Biased membership.
Considers individual membership rather than
institutional membership
possible solutions to Management
of Government Information
Emphasis on training
Improve on remunerations
Formulate a comprehensive NIP
Set up a government agency for
monitoring, processing and management
of government information
Merge ministerial/departmental
libraries for efficiency
 Community analysis to understand user needs &
information seeking behaviour
 Develop & improve on systems for dissemination of
government information.
 translate government information into all vernacular
languages for wider access and use.
 Implement compulsory free primary education
especially in the rural areas.
 Motivate staff through rewards, job security, high
wages, promotions, conferences, seminars &
scholarships.
CONCLUSION
Government information is useful for
socio-economic and political
development . An information structural
framework that includes a policy on
translation of government information
to all vernacular languages should be put
in place.
THANK YOU!!!
[email protected]