By Bob Aston
Sokopepe has emerged the
winner in the Agriculture category at the ICT Innovation Awards during the 2016 Connected Summit which began on March 20-23, 2016 at Leisure Lodge Beach and
Golf Resort, Diani, Kwale County.
The theme for 2016
Connected Summit “Bridging the Service Gap,” explores and identifies gaps that
can help achieve universal access to public services and how information
technology can improve efficiency in the delivery of government services,
simplify compliance with government regulations, strengthen citizen
participation and trust in government.
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| Mr. Martin Murangiri from Sokopepe receiving the Award.PHOTO:ICT Authority |
The ICT Innovation Awards
recognizes innovative ideas that have since grown into some of the most
recognizable tech start-ups in Kenya.
The awards highlight innovation that meets Kenya’s blueprint vision to
build a vibrant middle-income economy by the year 2030. Since 2011, the award has recognized more
than 45 new ICT products and solutions.
While receiving the Award
on behalf of Sokopepe, Mr. Martin Murangiri, Sokopepe
Recruitment, and Training Officer said that the social enterprise set up by the
Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) would continue to support the
agricultural sector in Kenya by offering market information and farm records
management services.
Sokopepe has been
piloting two innovations in five sub counties in Meru namely Imenti Central;
North Imenti; South Imenti; Buuri and Tigania West. The social enterprise has
been using Farm Records Management Information System
(FARMIS-Kenya) to
support small-scale farmers to develop and nurture a culture of record keeping,
and SOKO+, a digital commodity trading, and
information system, linking small-scale farmers to end retailers/bulk
purchasers of produce.
Sokopepe has been working
with more than 6,000 farmers in the five sub Counties of Meru. It has been
expanding the services to all sub-counties in Meru, while working closely with
the County Government and other stakeholders.
“Winning the award
motivates us to continue working with small-scale farmers by helping them to
use accurate primary data that can help empower them to improve their incomes,
livelihoods and food security,” said Mr. Murangiri.
Speaking at the summit,
Mr. Joseph Mucheru Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications,
and Technology noted that start-up companies need to bring experience to the
table.
“Money is not a problem,
the structure of companies in Kenya; start-ups and scale-ups cannot absorb big
money. Do what you have to do, build value and the investors will come,” said
Mr. Mucheru.
The objectives of the
2016 Connected Summit include identify gaps in public sector service delivery
that can be solved by innovative use of ICT; highlight efficiency gaps in
public sector IT projects and consider policy recommendations; and share
knowledge, best practice and lessons based on experience in implementing ICT
projects.
The Connected Summit is
the brainchild of the ICT Authority in consultation with ICT industry players
and key government decision makers. The Summit aims at establishing a platform
for collaboration, capacity building, and knowledge sharing between government
and the ICT sector with a view of linking and hastening implementation of
government IT projects to world-class standards.
The Connected Summit has
enabled its participants to develop unique insights that allow them to
successfully respond and design their engagements in Kenya’s vibrant ICT
sector.
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