National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) in Tharaka Nithi County have undergone a two-day training on digital data collection aimed at improving the monitoring of government projects and ensuring value for money in the use of public resources.
The training, led by County Commissioner David Gitonga and facilitated by ICT experts, seeks to equip chiefs, assistant chiefs and other NGAO officers with skills to collect, analyse and disseminate data through the government’s Digital Superhighway programme.
Officials said the initiative will help speed up implementation of government programmes by ensuring accurate and timely information reaches decision-makers at the national level.
One of the trainers, Jason Wano, said the officers were being equipped with modern methods of data collection to support the government’s development agenda.
“What we are training is methods to collect data to effectively implement the government’s agenda through the Digital Superhighway path. This is to ensure that actual data reaches other sectors of the national government to guide the allocation of public resources and help achieve Vision 2030,” Wano said.
Gitonga said the programme is part of President William Ruto’s plan to digitise government services and improve accountability in project implementation.
“The President met all NGAO officers, including chiefs and assistant chiefs, and directed that they be empowered not only with smartphones but also with other gadgets and there will be an APP to enable them report on various government projects,” Murungi said.
He urged residents to cooperate with government officers by providing accurate information whenever called upon.
“We urge wananchi to cooperate with these government officers. There is no way we can effectively track the implementation of various programmes if we do not have officers equipped with elaborate skills in data collection,” he said.
Gitonga said the training will later be extended to village elders, whom the government is increasingly integrating into the National Government Administration structure.
“The government is already factoring village elders as part of NGAO. They have to acquire these skills, understand the legal frameworks and have systems through which they can collect data for online transmission, monitor progress of projects, identify challenges and relay community suggestions and participation,” he said.
In the approved 2026/2027 budget, the government has set aside KSh3.9 billion for the Village Elders Stipend Programme, which seeks to support village elders as they assist in grassroots administration and implementation of government programmes.
Edited by John Majau
