Political Entrepreneurialism: Reflections of a Civil Servant on the Role of Political Institutions in Technology Innovation and Diffusion in Kenya

Elijah Bitange Ndemo

doi:10.5334/sta.fd

Abstract

This paper narrates how an innovative political institution in Kenya gained support from private sector players in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. The paper is centered on the reflections of a top civil servant who leveraged Lewin’s theoretical foundations and leadership to propel Kenya from obscurity to global renown in the ICT arena. The paper details the leadership of key players in the political system explaining on how their tolerance for risk encouraged ICT diffusion and innovation in Kenya. The paper delves into the details of executive decision making and how those decisions influence different stakeholders. The analysis reveals why Kenya succeeded where its neighbours did not. It shows that Kenya’s continued success in ICTs depends upon its stability – endemic corruption and previous political decisions could threaten this. The paper will also highlight the emergence of a new crop of innovators developing new applications across all sectors including education, health, agriculture and financial services.

Highlights

In his book Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy Schumpeter (1942) focused on the relationship between political democracy and alternative economic systems
Lewin’s model (1951) includes three stages, referred to as 1) ‘Unfreeze’; 2) ‘Change’; and 3) ‘Freeze’
Starting with the post-election conflict of 2008, the country has been besieged by insecurity, with major terrorist attacks at Westgate Shopping Mall in 2013 and more recently at Mpeketoni, Lamu area, in the coastal region bordering Somalia

Summary

Elijah Bitange Ndemo*

This paper narrates how an innovative political institution in Kenya gained support from private sector players in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. The paper is centered on the reflections of a top civil servant who leveraged Lewin’s theoretical foundations and leadership to propel Kenya from obscurity to global renown in the ICT arena. The paper details the leadership of key players in the political system explaining on how their tolerance for risk encouraged ICT diffusion and innovation in Kenya. The analysis reveals why Kenya succeeded where its neighbours did not. It shows that Kenya’s continued success in ICTs depends upon its stability – endemic corruption and previous political decisions could threaten this. The paper will highlight the emergence of a new crop of innovators developing new applications across all sectors including education, health, agriculture and financial services

Introduction

Findings

Conclusions