Membership in KIF Benefiting from an organised private sector... and contributing to it. The government accepts that the key to early economic recovery lies in working closely with the private sector.The private sector has the solutions to the country's economic problems, but to exert its full potential influence, there is a strategic need to build capacity in the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and in its sector boards including the Kenya ICT KIF membership... now to include corporations KIF is a registered not for profit society.
KIF was established in 2003, as KEPSA's sector board for ICT. This was in line with KEPSA's mandate to bring together the associations in each ICT market segment into a federation. KIF's current full members include e.g. TESPOK, Information Systems Audit and Control Association - Kenya (ISACA), etc. KEPSA and its sector boards have decided to further broaden membership of the sector boards by also encouraging corporate players to find representation at that level.
What KIF has done!
KIF has made significant achievements of significance to sector players, to users and to the country. We have consistently lobbied to put ICT on the National Agenda and to have a strong National ICT policy, and we are given to understand by senior and credible Government officials that our voice was instrumental. We advocate for private sector friendly ICT policies and strategies, not only with Government directly, but also through other influencers such as the Parliament and the media. The Ministerial Stakeholder Forum {MSF} is now established between the Infocom Ministry and KIF. Joint meetings are being chaired by the Permanent Sectetary and they can escalate relevant issues to the National Economic and Social Council. NESC is chaired by the President and includes three KEPSA representatives. We have led campaigns on tax harmonisation and removal; we have intervened with Government on matters put to us by Associations and Companies, and in turn have escalated some to KEPSA for their intervention; and we have been raising awareness Nation-wide on cost-effective usage of current ICT. Interaction with Members apart from active dialogue with our line Ministry Infocom and higher public fora, KIF has monthly Board Meetings and an AGM, and holds open thematic meetings and debates about four times each year.
In addition, every year we organise Management Conferences in the five main second-tier towns around the country. We have supported an International Open Source Software University Day and each year we support IEEE Engineering Students Exhibition under the auspices of IEEE and KEPSA. All these events are a platform for deciding on strategies and priorities for our Industry and all members are encouraged to participate in the interest of all. Specialised associations in the ICT sector (e.g. e-Commerce systems auditors, ISPs) are invited to join in the Associations Members' category. Private ICT companies are being offered the opportunity to join KIF as corporate associate member and form part of the team to represent the ICT sector at meetings with the Infocom Ministry and other important fora.
Annual Membership fees are:
Class 1: Large Companies & International Companies' Subsidiaries - KES 500,000.00
Class 2: Large Companies & International Companies Subsidiaries - KES 200,000.00
Class 3: Medium Sized Companies - KES 50,000.00
Class4: Small Companies - KES 20,000.00
Class5: Associations - KES 20,000.00
Membership contributions will be utilised to support the KIF Secretariat, which to date has been doing much work on a voluntary basis, although we are now hiring an Office Manager. Along with its ongoing activities, the Secretariat will be responsible for following up with Government, Public agencies and Development partners. We look forward to your generous and engaged support in this exciting and challenging mission, trusting you are confident that it is well justified.
We are always available to discuss any aspect of KIF and your membership with you.
