The Kenya Association of Records Managers and Archivists (KARMA) has today called for strengthened collaboration with stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to accelerate the digitisation and efficient management of records across the country.
Speaking during a high-level consultative forum in Nairobi, KARMA brought together leading ICT practitioners and government officials to discuss strategies for converting crucial records—ranging from personal and institutional to government data—into digital formats, in line with existing framework guidelines on records management and handling.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Mary Kerema, Secretary of ICT, e-Government and Digital Economy, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a paperless future. “The strategy to make government operations fully digital is progressing well. Kenya is undergoing a digital awakening, and record digitisation is central to this transformation,” she said.
Ms. Kerema emphasised the benefits of digitisation, including easier access to information, cost savings, quicker retrieval, and enhanced safety of archived materials. She noted that while many institutions remain semi-automated, there is an urgent need to fully automate both front-end and back-end operations to achieve a comprehensive digital records management ecosystem.
“Digitisation dramatically increases safety, data privacy, convenience, and accessibility, creating more ways to present records to new and wider audiences,” she stated.
To ensure sustainable transformation, Ms. Kerema also advocated for the introduction of records management curricula in technical institutions and universities, saying it would play a critical role in nurturing the next generation of records professionals.
Highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts, she noted the implementation of the Digital Superhighway Agenda, which aims to expand fibre optic coverage by over 100,000 kilometres, establish 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, and set up 1,450 Digital Village Smart Hubs across the country.
KARMA Chairman, Dr. Cleophas Ambira, underscored the importance of investing in cybersecurity as a prerequisite for successful digitisation. “Protecting computer systems, networks, and digital records from cyber threats is essential. This involves technologies, processes, and controls that ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability,” he said.
Dr. Ambira called on ICT professionals to support KARMA members in delivering on their mandate and safeguarding the association’s reputation among stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors.
As part of its efforts to enhance training and awareness, KARMA announced that it will host its ninth Annual Records Management Conference from 3rd to 7th November 2025 in Mombasa under the theme “Unlocking Smart Government.”
Dr. Ambira further noted the potential of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to revolutionise records management by increasing efficiency, reducing human error, lowering costs, improving decision-making, and enhancing user experience.
Also present at the meeting were Dr. Naftal Chweya, Director of Records Management at the State Department of Culture and Heritage, and Mr. Gilbert Matura, Director of the Smart Government Department.
