ICT practitioners have already been agitating over the newly passed ICT Bill by the parliament which they claim is a retrogressive strategy that is largely centred around liming the tech community.
The private bill passed on Wednesday, June 8, was first proposed in 2016 by majority leader Aden Duale and supported by MP Godfrey Osotsi. It was later reintroduced in 2018 before the third stab in 2020 with minor changes.
The Bill seeks to have ICT practitioners licensed before being permitted to practice and it also stipulates that for one to be eligible for registration, he /she should be a holder of a Bachelor’s Degree with at least three years of relevant experience.
The bill that has now caused even more public outcry has led Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Joe Mucheru to issue a statement as more pressure mounts on him to declare his interest.
“This ICT Bill is a private member’s bill. As a Ministry, we continuously fought against this bill in its various forms. The political season comes with all manner of surprises including failed assurances by the people responsible. I will do my part to safeguard our thriving sector,” he tweeted.
While he successfully influenced its withdrawal in 2018 after assuming office, Mucheru is again faced with a similar hurdle as the Bill now awaits Uhuru’s assent.
This ICT Bill is a private member’s bill. As a Ministry we continuously fought against this bill in its various forms. The political season comes with all maner of surprises including failed assurances by the people responsible. I will do my part to safeguard our thriving sector.
— CS Joe Mucheru EGH (@mucheru) June 11, 2022
ICT Bill fast facts
Here are the key things to know about the ICT Bill and the requirements for individuals to qualify for registration.
The bill demands;
- A Bachelor’s Degree in an ICT-related field from a recognized university. This could be Computer Science, Information Technology, Telecommunication, or Computer Engineering.
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics, with at least one year of post-qualification experience in the ICT field.
- A Diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, Telecommunication, or Computer Engineering, with three years post qualification experience in the ICT field.
- A Bachelor’s Degree (any) from a recognized University with at least three years of post-qualification experience in ICT.
- Any person who has demonstrated expertise, innovation, or competence in ICT may be determined by the council.
