EFFECT OF IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY ON SUCESSS OF DIGITAL VILLAGES IN KENYA

Abstract

Information communication technology (ICT) is quickly changing the conventional way of running business in Kenya. It is upon this foundation that the Kenyan Government under the ICT Authority realized a need to set up digital villages, otherwise known as Pasha Centers (Swahili word meaning to inform). Entrepreneurial model was used in Kenya unlike in other countries where the aim of digital villages was to bridge technological gap. The implementation of Pasha Centers required each constituency in Kenya to have a pasha. However five years down the line, only 63 centers had been opened and others closed subsequently. The purpose of this study was therefore to assess the effect of implementation strategy towards success of digital villages. 63 pasha managers and ICT-A personnel formed the target population. This was a census study conducted through questionnaires and interview guide as data collection instruments. Analysis of data entailed use of two computer software program: Computer Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) for qualitative data while the Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) analyzed quantitative data through descriptive and correlation statistics. The findings of the study indicated that the implementation strategy used was not appropriate. The study recommended need for having two implementation models for digital villages. The results of the study formed a learning base for future implementation of ICT projects such as the laptop school project.