West Pokot Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Samuel Kiarie has urged government officers to embrace effective information management and uphold ethical standards to improve service delivery.

Kiarie spoke in Kapenguria Town when he officially opened a three-day Phase II of the Training on Grassroots Data Management for Evidence-Based Planning for National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) at the Horizon Resort.

He said emerging issues, including the Data Protection Act, require government officers to exercise greater responsibility in handling official information and strictly adhere to existing laws and regulations.

“Some of us have been using the instruments of power entitlement, such as a crown, forgetting that there are laws and ethical conduct that have to be observed so that we don’t have beef with the law,” Kiarie said.

West Pokot Sub County DCC Samuel Kiarie during Phase II Training on Grassroots Data Management for Evidence-Based Planning for National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) at the Horizon Resort in Kapenguria on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Photo by Richard Muhambe

The DCC emphasized the importance of maintaining accurate and reliable government data and records, noting that policy formulation and implementation largely depend on credible information.

He said the government relies heavily on data collected at the grassroots level to plan and implement development programmes and deliver services to citizens.

Kiarie also underscored the importance of public participation, saying it is a constitutional requirement that enables citizens to contribute to government programmes and decision-making processes.

He said the training would equip officers with knowledge and skills to improve information management, observe ethical standards, and enhance their effectiveness in serving the public.

The training brings together NGAOs to strengthen their capacity in information management, ethical conduct, and other emerging issues affecting public administration.

The training organized by the State Department for Economic Planning is targeting officers and stakeholders involved in grassroots data management across 25 counties.

The training covers the NGAO staff up to the Assistant Chief, who will collect data from the communities and transmit it to the Designated Data Analysis Center.

The SDEP is working in collaboration with Konza Technology, KNBS, and the State Department for Interior.

By Richard Muhambe