Kisumu County has allocated Sh75 million for the purchase of computers to facilitate the implementation of electronic construction permitting expected to be launched this week.
The money will be used to acquire 110 desktops, 30laptops, 20 tablets, scanners, tilling cabinets and plate servers to be used by the county staff in the digital system aimed at digitizing the county's construction sector.
City Manager Doris Ombara said part of the money has already been spent on the equipment ahead of the launch of the e-construction permitting tomorrow.
"We have been working on the digitization of the services within the county since last year with the help of World Bank and this marks the beginning of the results of the cooperation," said Ombara.
The county is expected to fully migrate from the manual to digital system in applying and processing for building licenses in the next three months.
Senior officials from the World Bank, Dutch government and other stakeholders are expected in the county tomorrow for the launch of the e-construction system expected to improve the quality of structures in the area.
In the system, architects and developers will now be able to acquire their permits at the desired time of less than two days for low risk developments and one week for the high risks.
The county becomes the third after Nairobi and Mombasa to migrate from the manual process which was characterized with corruption and delays.
Authorities have said the system is economically viable to the county as it will block corruption and increase investor confidence.
"This system is not only economical to the county but also to the investors who will cut the travel expenses to the city planning department offices in their quest for permits as they are able to apply upload and download their permits at the comfort of their offices," added Ombara.
Addressing journalists ahead of the launch yesterday, the county's Executive Member for Communication and Technology Michael Onyango said the project is part of the major plan to transform Kisumu into an ICT hub.
"There is reduced contact between the investors and the county officers and this reduces the cases of 'whom do I need to know to have my document processed' which have always been experienced," said Onyango.
He said county staffs that lack computer skills will be given refresher courses to enable them to work efficiently with the system.
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