Rigathi Gachagua has expressed deep embarrassment over the appointment of William Kabogo as Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT), claiming the CS is completely out of touch with the basics of the digital world.
Speaking during a public address, Gachagua alleged that Kabogo is unfamiliar with even the most common technology terms such as WiFi, URL, CPU, and RAM. “These are completely foreign to him,” Gachagua remarked, suggesting that the ICT docket requires a leader with a firm grasp of technological concepts.
The Deputy President further pointed out that the CS’s lack of awareness extends to emerging technologies. “Ask him about ChatGPT and you’ll be shocked — he knows nothing about AI,” Gachagua said, expressing concern that Kenya’s digital transformation goals could be hindered by such a knowledge gap at the leadership level.
His remarks have ignited heated debates online, with some Kenyans agreeing that the ICT ministry should be led by a tech-savvy individual, while others believe leadership skills and vision matter more than technical jargon.
The statement also raises questions about Kenya’s readiness to embrace innovations like artificial intelligence, 5G connectivity, and digital economy reforms if key policymakers are not well-versed in the very technologies they oversee.
