Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru disowns ICT Bill which was passed by the parliament a couple of days ago.
Through a tweet, CS Joe Mucheru said the ICT bill is a private member’s bill and did not originate from the government.
“This ICT Bill is a private member’s bill. As a Ministry we continuously fought against this bill in its various forms. The political season comes with all maner of surprises including failed assurances by the people responsible. I will do my part to safeguard our thriving sector.”
The ICT bill was sponsored by Godfrey Osotsi, a nominated member of parliament, in 2020 and proposed establishment of practitioners’ institute and annual registration of ICT practitioners.
The institute and its council will regulate ICT training institutions and practioners if the bill is assented to by the president. It also proposes that the only ICT practitioners to be recognized by the institute are only those with a degree.
After tweeting his position on the bill, CS Joe Mucheru released a report he had conveyed to the Speaker of the National Assembly on 4th April 2022 challenging the ICT Practitioners Bill.
On the report, ICT Cabinet Secretary noted that the regulations the bill was seeking to introduce would inconvenience over 10,000 practitioners who enter the market annually.
Mucheru also pointed out the baggage ICT practitioners will have to leave with considering the annual registration fee they have to pay each year.
The ICT Cabinet Secretary also questioned the demeaning of diploma holders and self-taught ICT practitioners by the bill.
