Cabinet Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, faced intense scrutiny from the Committee on Communication, Information, and Innovation.

The committee chaired by Dagoretti South Member of Parliament grilled the CS over various works including pending projects under his docket.

During the intense session, CS Kabogo started by listing key achievements including the digital superhighway, digital hubs in 1,450 constituencies, and government digitization.

However, MPs quickly responded asking the CS Kabogo to highlight tangible results instead of dwelling on the normal rhetoric.

“We don’t want to be a government that just speaks and doesn’t deliver,” asserted Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto, emphasizing the need for tangible results.

Stalled projects

The MPs raised concerns over stalled projects, inactive public Wi-Fi hotspots, and limited public awareness of the ministry’s initiatives.

In creating public awareness, Alfah Miruka (MP Bomachoge Chache) wondered whether CS Kabogo’s ministry had done enough work for people to understand digital hubs.

“People don’t know what digital hubs are or what the Ministry actually does. How are you changing that?” Miruka posed.

Responding to some of the concerns, ICT Principal Secretary John Tanui acknowledged sustainability challenges affecting digital hubs and Wi-Fi projects but assured the Committee that solutions were being developed.

Financial concerns

Besides the issue of projects, the utilisation of funds also formed part of the areas of discussion between the MPs and Kabogo.

Particular scrutiny fell on stalled projects like Studio Mashinani, which aims to empower local talent, and the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), whose Eldoret branch received no funding despite allocations for refurbishing the ministry’s headquarters.

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) ballooning debt was also featured in the session between MPs and the CS.

Addressing KBC’s Ksh52 billion debt, CS Kabogo stated that the Ministry was cleaning up shop before seeking additional funding.

In closing remarks, the committee challenged CS Kabogo to stamp his authority pointing out that the CS was no aware to be been in the public.

“We want to hear you, feel you, and see you in public,” urged Joyce Atieno Osogo Bensouda (Homa Bay Mp).