Kenya Elected Chair of Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization for 2012-13

Kenya has been elected to chair the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) Council for 2012-13.

The elections took place during the 52^nd CTO Council Meeting on 25^th October 2012 in Mauritius. Also elected were Nigeria as the First Vice Chairperson and Trinidad and Tobago as the Second Vice Chairperson. Telkom South Africa and the Telecommunications Regulatory Board of Cameroon were elected to the CTO’s Executive Committee representing the Industry Partners and the Development Partners of the CTO, respectively.

Before the election, Kenya was the 1^st Vice Chair of the CTO during the 2011 – 2012 period.

The Council is the oversight body of the CTO mandated to provide strategic leadership to the organization as well as provide guidance to the CEO and the management team on a number of issues including implementation of the strategic plan, business plan and operational budget. The Chairperson also chairs the Governing Council meetings.

Addressing Council members soon after the elections, Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Information and Communications, Hon. George Khaniri, thanked the Council members for demonstrating confidence in Kenya by entrusting her with such a responsibility. The Minister pledged the Government’s support in all activities of CTO.

The Council meeting was preceded by the 10th Annual CTO Forum, which was opened by His Excellency Hon. Rajkeswur Purryag, GCSK, GOSK, President of the Republic of Mauritius.  The Forum brought together policy makers, regulators and industry representatives from both Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries, to explore how mobile broadband can be utilized more effectively, efficiently and securely for development.

Kenya is a member of CTO and CCK is the official Government representative to the CTO.

The CTO is a Commonwealth organization engaged in multilateral collaboration in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). It uses its experience and expertise to support members in integrating ICTs to deliver effective development interventions that enrich, empower, and emancipate people within the Commonwealth and beyond.