Reliance on manual, paper-based records leads to unnecessary costs in today’s digital age. Digitization could save Africa millions, improve public resource allocation, reduce government operational costs, and cut retrieval times, boosting productivity and efficiency - especially in services requiring quick information access.

Information and records management company Metrofile Kenya has announced a partnership with the Kenya Association of Records Managers and Archivists (KARMA) to advance digital transformation in Kenya’s records management sector. This collaboration was launched at KARMA’s 8th annual conference, held from 4 to 8 November. It seeks to establish a secure, efficient, and digitally forward approach to managing records nationwide.

At the event, Metrofile Kenya Managing Director Jackline Mburu highlighted the importance of effective records management in building a digital economy. “With EverFiles, we’re ensuring data sovereignty and smooth access to vital information. This partnership will empower Kenyan businesses and government bodies to manage their digital assets with confidence,” she said.

Metrofile’s EverFiles platform, central to this partnership, offers innovative solutions aimed at streamlining record-keeping, enhancing productivity, and promoting data sovereignty. Together, Metrofile and KARMA are setting new standards for Kenya’s digital transformation journey in records management, reinforcing the country’s position as a leader in digitizing government services.

This collaboration will help Kenya address the financial and operational inefficiencies of outdated, paper-based systems. It aligns with Kenya Vision 2030 initiative, a national development blueprint aimed at transforming the country into an industrialized, middle-income economy by the year 2030. A major pillar of this vision is public sector reform, which includes the digitization of government services to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility.

In July 2024, Mary Kerema, the Secretary for ICT, eGovernment, and the Digital Economy stated that the Kenyan government was aiming to digitize at least 80% of public services and make them accessible via the eCitizen platform. She pointed out that nearly 17,000 services had already been digitized and put online as part of the National Digitisation Plan (2022-2032).

Thanks to the accelerated digitization of public services, the President of the Republic, William Ruto, claimed in November 2023 that the State's monthly revenue had increased from around 1.5 billion shillings (11.7 million USD) in previous years to 9 billion shillings. This growth was due to many factors, including a reduction in the cost of managing paper documents.

Hikmatu Bilali