Training the Trainers: Kenyan civil servants prepare to advance e-government services
This spring, 30 Kenyan civil servants participated in a training programme to provide them with the skills to support citizens who need assistance navigating and accessing Kenya's e-government services.
By training civil servants who directly serve citizens, this Training of Trainers (ToT) programme aims to increase the government's capacity to deliver citizen-centric e-services at the grassroots level. It combines theoretical insights with hands-on sessions to build practical competencies in digital service delivery.
The Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) organised this pilot ToT workshop at the Kenya School of Government's eLearning Centre in Nairobi. The workshop was run by BCS Digital Skills Academy and the Kenyan School of Government.
Nurturing Kenya's digital ambassadors
During the five-day workshop, participants explored a wide range of topics, including digital skills assessment, safe online practices, digital communication strategies, e-learning platforms, and more.
John Obaka, a programme officer at the Huduma Centre, said he could put these new skills to use immediately. "The understanding of how to design courses and offer training online will go a long way in enabling me as a trainer to train several others online without the need for face-to-face training," Obaka said. "We are going to adopt online training for small groups and gradually expand to larger groups as we firm up our capacity for online training."
For Mercy Kimemia, the Uwezo Fund's assistant director of Youth Development, the exposure to digital tools for data processing and analysis will be most beneficial to her on a day-to-day basis. "The information acquired will aid in data collection, analysis, and visualisation. Now, we will be able to collect accurate data as required by the Uwezo Fund and the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy. [Digital] tools will also assist in improving service delivery, as we will be able to identify patterns in data and improve accuracy and efficiency," Kimemia said.
These civil servants act as critical intermediaries between the government and the public. Now that they are able to provide services more effectively, they can act as digital ambassadors within their institutions and communities.
Developing a sustainable digital ecosystem
ESTDEV's approach to digital transformation in Kenya is not just about the tools; it is about people. The ToT programme participants will go on to support their colleagues and local communities, multiplying the impact and sustainability of this initiative.
"Professional development has to happen at the same time as digital development. The tools are there to help make government more efficient and more transparent, but we have to have stakeholder buy-in to ensure digitalisation efforts are effective and sustainable," said Triin Kangur, ESTDEV's IT project manager. "Training the trainers creates a ripple effect, as they can go back to their organisations and share their newfound skills and knowledge."
By implementing training programmes alongside e-government tools, the project ensures Kenya's public institutions are equipped with both digital infrastructure and knowledgeable officers who can sustain digital transformation efforts.
The workshops took place under the framework of a 2.4 million euro digital development project in Kenya to support the country's digitalisation and the creation of a transparent, efficient digital society. ESTDEV manages the project as part of the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Human-Centred Digitalisation. GIZ supports implementation through the Digital Transformation Center (DTC), and Germany and the European Union have provided financing.
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