An evaluation of community based Information communication and technology for development projects: case of digital villages in Kenya

Abstract

Many scholars have argued that K'T is a major contributor to development. The modernization theorists argued that developing countries lag behind in terms of development due to their failure to adopt modernity that led to development in the developed countries. leT is a basic infrastructure that can transform other development sectors. Therefore there is need to exploited to strategically position the country to benefit from an increasingly information driven global economy.

This study therefore, sought to evaluate the community based lCT projects for development through the study of digital villages in Kenya. The study specifically evaluated the prospects of digital villages in meeting their stated objectives, the level of awareness of digital villages in Kenya and the perception of digital villages among the stakeholders.

The research study used comparative case studies selected from different social economic settings. Data was collected using in - depth interviews and observation. This provided insight into the phenomena. The research findings show that despite the much hype by the government and Kenya Data Networks, the digital villages are still at their infancy and are yet to meet their stated objectives fully. Their level of awareness is low and the stakeholders seemed to have contradicting views on the concept of digital villages