COMPLITKENYA is a Community Based Organization which was founded in March 2013, by a group of young professionals from Gesima Division of Nyamira County in western Kenya; who joined hands to seek solutions for challenges facing their community, in this case bridging the digital divide. Although the organization is newly set-up, the founding members who have formed the bulk of staff are professiona
ls in various fields some of whom have been working at similar capacities in other organizations for many years. For instance, the Executive Director has a wealth of experience in non-profit management having served in a similar capacity in another non-profit organization for at least ten years. Members of the Board of Management set up to run the organization are renowned experts who are members of the community with years upon years of experience in various fields. The Chairman of the Board is a computer systems guru and a young but successful entrepreneur in the ICT sector. He brings to the organization a wealth of experience both on organizational management and the use of ICTs for development. The founding members were motivated by the glaring reality in their community about the ever widening digital gap and that rural populations have been far left behind in this technological development. Even though ICT had become indispensable in people’s everyday lives, even though ICT had solved many problems and increased efficiency, even though ICT had improved communications and global interactions; yet to the vast populations in rural areas, this ICT revolution remained a far cry, a reserve for the urban affluent. COMPLITKENYA therefore sought to respond to this dire need through establishment of e-Community Centres to provide free computer trainings and other ICT related services either free or at subsidized rates for the rural populations. The organization has since formulated a number of best practice policies to guide its operations. These policies include: The Financial Procedures and Management Policy governing the organization’s fiduciary operations; The Data and Information Management Policy to govern the organization’s data flow into, within and out of the organization and management of the same; The Monitoring and Evaluation framework to guide the organization’s monitoring, evaluation, feedback and reporting procedures; The Human Resources Management policy to govern manpower related procedures; Leadership and Governance Policy to guide the organization’s management model; and Computer and ICT Policy; among others. COMPLITKENYA has also continued to negotiate with various partners in the ICT and management sectors in a bid to sign mutual agreements aimed at better service delivery. Some of the targeted partners include institutions of higher learning, government departments, Non Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations and other likeminded entities. The organization has also developed a five year strategic plan dubbed ‘The Digital Revolution: A Strategy Framework for Promoting Community ICT Development in Rural Kenya’ which outlines the strategy to Promote ICT Development, which includes improving ICT Literacy through free informal computer trainings, promoting e-learning and enhancing creation of employment opportunities for the ICT-savvy youths in rural areas. Finally, the organization is governed by an elaborate Constitution, written and ratified by founding members. By and large, COMPLITKENYA as a Community Based Organization is all about revolutionizing rural areas technologically, talk about bridging the digital gap. MISSION: To address digital disparities by establishing a free, fast and reliable communication highway for marginalized rural communities. MISSION STATEMENT: Taking the Digital Revolution to the Village. VISION: To establish world-class e-Community Centres so as to promote Community ICT Development, promote e-learning and enhance youth employment through ICT strategies.
