Leveraging Technology for Government Service Delivery: Suggestions for Securing the eCitizen Services in Kenya
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Date
2024
Authors
Maina, Lucy W.
Otieno, Godfred Ohndyl
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
EANSO
Abstract
Governments across the world have increasingly embraced e-governance
in the provision of public services. This development has significantly
reduced bureaucracy, enhanced efficiency, reduced corruption and
fundamentally transformed public service delivery. However, the
adoption of these copyright technology solutions, owned by international
corporations, non-state actors, mostly multinational corporations
(MNCs), have equally exposed user governments, such as Kenya, to
significant cyberspace security threats, service disruptions, exposed
national security, interferences to national independence and loss of
national sovereignty. These threats arise from the activities of offensive
states, non-states and individuals taking advantage of the integrated and
dependent internet connectivity networks. This paper is an extract from a
study conducted on Information Security Threats to eCitizen Services in
Kenya. The research presents findings on information security measures
to secure eCitizen services in Kenya. The case study adopted a
descriptive research design that targeted 12,000 respondents (users) from
51 Huduma Centres countrywide. Purposive sampling was applied to
select Huduma Centres and 10% of respondents from each centre. About
1,200 questionnaires were issued with a return rate of 966 responses at
80%. The study applied both quantitative and qualitative techniques in
analysis. The hypothesis was tested at a 5% significance level. The study
identified 10 categories of security measures, six of which are discussed
in this paper i.e., National capabilities, institutional policies, capacity
development, backups, physical access, professional certification,
frequent ICT audits, firewalls and management security reviews. The
study recommends locally modelled technological solutions, mutually
beneficial cyber security collaboration, frequent infrastructure security
audits, user capacity training and restructuring national security organs to
create cyberspace manning capabilities. These sectoral changes will
enhance preventive, defensive and offensive capabilities against arising
cyberspace threats from geopolitical, technological, economic and
security competition and rivalries among global nations, non-state actors
and malicious individuals.
Description
Article
Keywords
Bureaucracy, eCitizen, e-Governance, Information Security, National Sovereignty
Citation
Maina, L., & Otieno, G. (2024). Leveraging Technology for Government Service Delivery: Suggestions for Securing the eCitizen Services in Kenya. East African Journal of Information Technology, 7(1), 81-91. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajit.7.1.1757