Leaders | Apolitical

Welcome, trainers.

This guide equips you to develop the skills of public sector Leaders to support Kenya's ongoing digital transformation. Leaders play a pivotal role in setting strategic direction, integrating new technologies and ensuring cohesive governance across various public sector areas. This guide will provide you with insights, methodologies and practical tools to build key competencies among this group.

This guide is organised into 4 parts:

Part 1: Programme context
Part 2: User insights (Needs Analysis Report: Regional Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence Skilling)
Part 3: Training preparation
Part 4: Facilitation and preparation guide (Downloadable Training Agenda)

Key resources:

Needs Analysis Report: Regional Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence Skilling
Training Agenda

Part 1: Programme context

You, as trainers, are integral to driving digital transformation across Kenya’s leadership cadre! As part of this programme, you will facilitate three two-hour training sessions tailored to Leaders, focusing on advancing their digital skills.

This guide contains all the relevant information you will need, beginning with the overarching objectives of the programme:

Training programme objectives

Improve digital competencies within the public sector to accelerate the digital transformation of the public sector in Kenya.
Enhance access to advanced technologies and thus increase efficiency, inclusion, and service delivery within government.
Promote a culture of innovation and experimentation embedded within the public sector, resulting in a mindset and cultural shift among public servants to drive and lead inclusive transformation towards a digital government.

Key skills to be developed across ICT Technical leaders

Digital Leadership, strategy and Design:
- Systems thinking
- Strategic foresight
- Digital strategy and governance
- Digital leadership and planning
- Change management
Data use and governance:
- Privacy and security
- Public speaking
Digital management and implementation:
- Emerging Technology
- Advanced technology and programming

Part 2: User Insights

This section includes a report by the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy (MiCDE), UNDP and Oxford Insights. The report was compiled based on a series of interviews with Leaders to determine their current skill levels and challenges.

As a trainer, it’s crucial to identify the current skill levels and the unique challenges ICT Technical leaders face to tailor content and discussions to address knowledge gaps and build capabilities.

Key insights indicate that Leaders are currently in the foundational stages of digital transformation. They are working on initial steps such as goal setting, breaking down data silos and engaging stakeholders. The training should build on these capabilities to elevate their proficiency in digital governance, programme management and strategic thinking.

Download and read the Needs Analysis Report: Regional Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence Skilling before you continue to Part 3.

Part 3: Training preparation

This section provides a comprehensive roadmap for immersing yourself in the training material, equipping you with the knowledge and confidence to lead engaging sessions for public sector leaders.

Preparation steps:

1. Engage with the resources

Dedicate time to review the curated courses, articles and videos at each skill level.
Familiarise yourself with the structure of the learner journey to understand the types of resources learners will engage with at the foundational, proficient and expert levels.

2. Prepare for content questions

Participants will arrive at the training with questions grounded in their roles and experiences. This section outlines likely questions for each knowledge area, practical steps you can take to prepare and example answers relevant to Kenya's ICT landscape. This approach ensures you are equipped to engage participants effectively.

a. Session 1: Digital Leadership, Strategy, and Design

Key Skills:
- Systems thinking
- Strategic foresight
- Digital strategy and governance
- Digital leadership and planning
- Change management

Click through the expandable boxes to reveal anticipated participant questions, preparation guidance and example answers for each key skill:

Systems thinking

Possible Questions:
- How do I identify all stakeholders in a complex digital initiative?
- How can systems thinking improve collaboration between government agencies and private partners?
Trainer Preparation:
- Watch the 7-minute highlights video from "
  Masterclass on Systems Mapping Techniques
  " to understand tools for mapping interconnections.
- Consider examples from your own experience where multi-stakeholder collaboration was critical.
Example answer:
- “Start by mapping the ecosystem. For instance, a digital initiative can include stakeholders such as the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, civil society, data privacy advocates and citizens. Systems thinking helps you identify not only their roles but also their dependencies. You can use stakeholder mapping tools to visualise these relationships and plan for potential conflicts, such as data privacy concerns clashing with rapid deployment needs”.

Strategic foresight, Digital strategy and governance, and Digital leadership and planning

Possible Questions:
- How can I set strategic digital goals that align with national initiatives?
Trainer Preparation:
- Review Vision 2030 objectives and prepare examples of setting impactful digital transformation goals in government settings.
Example answer:
- “Start by understanding Kenya's Vision 2030 goals and identify how digital strategies in your department can help achieve these. Goal setting starts with defining desired outcomes, such as improved citizen service delivery.”

Change management

Possible Questions:
- How do I overcome resistance to adopting a new government portal or system?
- What strategies work for managing change in an under-resourced department?
Trainer Preparation:
- Read the article "Explore the Benefits of a Change Agents Program for Public Sector Organisations".
- Prepare Kenyan examples, such as the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) digital transformation journey.
Example answer:
- “Resistance often stems from fear of the unknown. In Kenya, NTSA tackled this by starting with pilot programmes for its TIMS portal and engaging users early through training workshops. For under-resourced departments, leveraging local champions — staff who can advocate for the change — can make a significant difference”.

b. Session 2: Data Use and Governance

Key Skills:
- Privacy and security
- Public speaking

Click through the expandable boxes to reveal anticipated participant questions, preparation guidance and example answers for each key skill:

Privacy and security

Possible Questions:
- How do we balance security with accessibility in digital systems?
- What frameworks should we follow to comply with Kenya’s Data Protection Act?
Trainer Preparation:
- Understand why Cybersecurity is for everyone
- Explore resources on Zero Trust and ethical AI frameworks.
- Familiarise yourself with the Data Protection Act and its implications.
Example answer:
- “The Data Protection Act mandates that all citizen data collected digitally must be processed transparently and securely. Zero Trust principles can help ensure this by requiring authentication at every access point. For accessibility, use tiered permissions — grant users access only to the data they need while protecting sensitive information".

Public speaking

Possible Questions:
- How do I simplify technical language for policymakers who aren’t tech-savvy?
- What tools can help me keep audiences engaged during a presentation?
Trainer Preparation:
- Reference techniques fromMaster the Art of Public Speaking.
- Provide an example, such as explaining cybersecurity to county-level officials.
Example answer:
- “Start with an analogy: 'Imagine your office has a front door but no locks. That’s what happens without cybersecurity in digital systems.' For engagement, use visuals like flowcharts to explain how a breach could occur and its impact on citizen services”.

c. Session 3: Digital Management and Implementation:

Key Skills:
- Emerging Technology
- Advanced Technology and Programming

Click through the expandable boxes to reveal anticipated participant questions, preparation guidance and example answers for each key skill:

Emerging Technology and Advanced Technology and Programming

Possible Questions:
- How do I integrate AI into policy decisions effectively?
Trainer Preparation:
- Read the report on Building AI Capability in Government to understand the latest trends, data and research from Apolitical’s global community of 250,000 public servants in this insights report.
Example answer:
- “AI can assist by providing predictive analytics for policy impacts. For example, using AI to model how changes in public services could affect citizen satisfaction or resource allocation can lead to more informed decision-making.”

Part 4: Facilitation and Preparation Guide

This section provides actionable guidance for facilitating effective sessions, focusing on practical strategies to engage participants and foster peer learning using real-world challenges. Download and the Trainers guide here

Before you begin the session, review the facilitation tips and checklist:

Facilitation tips:

Number of sessions: We recommend running three sessions for ICT Technical leaders, one for each knowledge area
Duration: 2 hours (can be adjusted based on participant needs)

Checklist for trainers:

Understand the learner's current skill levels and desired outcomes by reading the Report by UNDP in collaboration with Oxford Insights (in-progress).
Review the provided questions, preparation notes and example answers in Part 3 of this guide before the session.
Ensure tools (e.g. slides, videos, or activity templates) are ready to use.
Practice delivering case study instructions and hands-on demonstrations.
Be prepared to adapt discussions based on participants’ needs or experiences.

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Leaders Training Guide

Part 1: Programme context

Part 2: User Insights

Part 3: Training preparation

1. Engage with the resources

2. Prepare for content questions

Part 4: Facilitation and Preparation Guide