In a continent riddled with corruption and inefficiency, ICT solutions are coming in handy to stem the vice. The Kenya government is among the first ones in the region to have taken the bold step of contracting AccessKenya, one of the leading IT solutions integration companies in the country, to develop an Electronic Project Monitoring Information System (e-PROMISE). AccessKenya will also train employees in all ministries in the use of e-PROMISE in the day to day running of financial processes.  According to Jonathan Somen, the Chief Executive Officer, AccessKenya, e-PROMISE Kenya is a Monitoring and Evaluation system developed by AccessKenya Group for the government to improve efficiency and transparency of government and donor funded reconstruction programmes within the country.  “The system is meant to promote accountability and transparency of donor and government funded projects by tracking and analyzing aid flows and will be accessible online by all Kenyans.”

The e-PROMISE Kenya software will allow the user to view data organised into lists, reports, charts, and is already installed in government ministries. The training to familiarize the government officials with the system is mandatory for all ministry heads of ICT and Finance and will end this Friday, January 22, 2010. 
 
Kris Senanu the MD of AccessKenya Group’s Internet Division said the software has been a source of relief for countries fighting graft like India, Rwanda, USA and Philippines:
 
“This is a very important initiative and milestone and of national interest and AccessKenya is pleased to be part of the pioneering process that will improve efficiency and accountability in government systems and thus help to restore confidence in the same.” 
 
The training, which is taking place at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, is to help ICT and Chief Financial heads in all the 42 ministries in the Kenyan government know how to use the system and thus support the government to become more transparent and accountable.  
 
AccessKenya won the tender from the Ministry of Finance to work on developing the software that will serve as the main database and reporting system for the Kenyan government, as well as the donor and NGO community. The software was developed and tested over the last 4 months. 
 
The software is also expected to enable anyone from government, private sector and the general public to access details of donor and government funded projects online including commencement date, contractor in-charge, progress updates, cost, funds spent at particular stages and completion date.

“The e-PROMISE Kenya software will serve as a reliable and credible source of information on overall donor contributions to Kenya’s reconstruction, economic recovery and socio-economic development, as well as to support the Government in effectively managing development assistance and promoting the accountable and transparent use of resources, “said Senanu.
 
The unveiling of the software could not have come at a better time. The Government is still smarting from a scandal of monumental proportions following the disappearance of millions of dollars meant for the Free Primary Education (FPE) Programme. The British Department for International Development (DfID) suspended its funding of the programme following revelations of financial impropriety among some Ministry of Education officials.