Preserving the Present: Is Digital Access a Right?
The Crucial Role of ICT, HR, and Records Managers in Kenya
A Question for the Digital Age
World Digital Preservation Day (WPD) on November 6th, 2025, poses a provocative question: “Preserving the Present: A Digital Right?” For Kenya, racing towards its Smart Government vision, this is not a philosophical debate but a practical imperative. It’s about ensuring that every digital transaction, every e-government service, and every piece of civic data created today remains accessible, authentic, and usable tomorrow. But who is responsible for upholding this right? The answer lies in a critical, three-way partnership: ICT, Human Resources, and Records Management.
The Kenyan Context: Smart Government Demands Smart Preservation
Kenya’s Digital Master Plan aims to digitize 80% of government services. This creates an immense volume of digital records; from land titles and birth certificates to tax filings and court rulings. If these records are lost, corrupted, or become inaccessible, the promise of Smart Government fails. Citizens’ “digital right” to access services and information vanishes. Therefore, digital preservation is the bedrock upon which trust in digital governance is built.
The Three Pillars of Digital Preservation
Upholding this digital right cannot fall to one department. It requires a collaborative effort, and this is the core conversation we are fostering at the upcoming KARMA Annual Conference.
The ICT Professional
The Builder of Systems
.
Your Role: You are the custodian of the infrastructure. You select and implement the EDRMS, cloud storage, and security protocols that make preservation technically possible.
The WPD Link: You answer how we preserve. Your choices directly impact the long-term viability and security of digital information.
Conference Takeaway: Gain insights into designing systems that are not just efficient but also preservation-ready from the start, meeting RIM and compliance needs.
The Records Manager
The Architect of Governance
.
- Your Role: You define the "what, why, and for how long." You establish the policies, retention schedules, and metadata standards that ensure information is managed as a valuable asset.
- The WPD Link: You answer why we preserve. Without your governance framework, preservation is aimless and non-compliant.
- Conference Takeaway: Learn to develop digital preservation policies that integrate seamlessly with the systems ICT builds and the workforce HR trains.
The HR Professional
The Cultivator of Culture & Skills
.
- Your Role: You manage the human element. You are responsible for fostering a culture of compliance and for equipping the entire workforce with the skills to handle digital information correctly.
- The WPD Link: You answer who preserves. Technology and policies are useless without a skilled and aware workforce to implement them.
- Conference Takeaway: Discover strategies for leading digital change management, building a future-ready workforce, and creating training programs that bridge the gap between ICT and RIM.
From Theory to Practice at the KARMA Conference
The theme of WPD 2025 is a call to action. It moves the conversation from if we should preserve to how we ensure it becomes a non-negotiable standard.
This is precisely the mission of the 9th KARMA Annual Records Management Conference 2025, “Smart Government: The Role of RIM,” happening from November 3rd to 7th in Mombasa. While our name highlights Records Management, our agenda is built for collaboration. Sessions on EDRMS implementation, digital HR, cybersecurity, AI, and legal frameworks are designed to give each pillar -ICT, HR, and Records- the tools and understanding they need to work together effectively.
Conference Details
Date and Time
November 3rd - 7th, 2025 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Daily
Location
Pridelnn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa (Mombasa)
Your Invitation to Secure Kenya's Digital Future
This World Digital Preservation Day, we challenge every ICT specialist, HR leader, and Records Manager in the public sector to see themselves as guardians of our digital legacy. Preserving the present is indeed a digital right, and it is one we are collectively responsible for delivering.
Ready to champion digital preservation in your organization?
Register today for the 9th KARMA Annual Records Management Conference 2025 and gain the cross-functional knowledge needed to lead the way.
Join us at the 9th KARMA Annual Records Management Conference 2025 to turn this responsibility into a reality. This conference is the strategic summit where the pillars of Smart Government unite.