Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has been named the Digital Excellence Champion of the Year by the Information Communication Technology Association of Kenya (ICTAK).

This award recognizes his outstanding leadership in leveraging technology to enhance public service delivery.

The ceremony, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), also saw Nairobi County receive the award for Best Use of ICT in Service Delivery.

Under Governor Sakaja’s leadership, Nairobi County has transformed its operations by fully digitizing revenue collection systems. This move has significantly increased revenue while addressing inefficiencies and reducing corruption.

“The manual systems were prone to fraud, underreporting, and mismanagement. By introducing cashless payments and automated systems, funds are now directly remitted to county accounts, minimizing losses,” Sakaja explained.

The digital platforms also enable real-time tracking of payments, ensuring transparency and simplifying revenue audits.

“As a result of this digital transformation, Nairobi County achieved record revenue growth, with the highest-ever collection of KSh 12.8 billion reported last year,” Sakaja noted.

Additionally, Governor Sakaja introduced the Unified Business Permit, a consolidated licensing system designed to streamline business operations within the county.

“It combines multiple permits and licenses required for businesses into one document, making it easier for business owners to comply with regulations and pay necessary fees,” he explained.

Another notable innovation is the Tap 2 Eat program, which utilizes tech-integrated yellow wristbands for public school students in Nairobi.

These wristbands, embedded with digital technology, store each child’s identification details and enable the county to monitor payment of the daily meal fee of KSh 5. Parents can load funds onto the wristbands via mobile money platforms like M-Pesa, allowing students to access meals by simply tapping their wristbands at school.

For families unable to pay, Sakaja assured, “No child is ever turned away because of the lack of five shillings. We cover the cost for about 10% of students who cannot pay.” Over 310,000 learners are currently benefiting from this program.

The awards underscore the critical role of ICT in driving efficiency, transparency, and growth in Nairobi County, setting a benchmark for other counties across Kenya.