County to splash millions on iPads for MCAs ‘to work from home’
Kisumu county assembly is set to purchase iPads for all its 48 members in a bid to go paperless.
Also to receive the gadgets are the Speaker Onyango Oloo, clerks and other assembly staff.
The iPads are to enable MCAs carry home assembly work and documents with ease.
They are also to help MCAs access reports, house business calendar, standing orders and order papers as well as help them access internet to undertake other official activities.
In a tender notice dated May 4, published in the Daily Nation, the assembly has invited bidders for the supply and delivery of the gadgets for members of the county assembly.
According to the Mr George Olwal, MCA for Kolwa Central and also the Chairman of Planning, ICT and Industrialization in the assembly, the committee unanimously recommended the purchase.
GO PAPERLESS
“There is need for the assembly to go paperless. We are also in the process of upgrading the Hansard,” said Mr Olwal.
He disclosed that they plan to undertake ICT upgrading of the assembly once Wi-Fi connection is restored at the assembly.
It is not yet clear how much will be used for the procurement of the iPads, but earlier reports had indicated that the assembly will spend approximately Sh5 million.
This was according to the former Chairman of the Finance Committee Mr James who maintained that there was a budget of Sh5 million for new ipads. They had spent a similar amount when they bought theirs.
Earlier this year, Kisumu residents questioned the decision to procure new iPads instead of reclaming those used by former MCAs who lost in the elections.
Only four former MCAs have returned the gadgets. They are former Nyalenda B Ward Representative Mr James Were, his West Nyakach counterpart Mr James Omollo and Nominated MCAs Salome Lunghafa and Mr Bob Ndolo.