Dr. Katherine W. Getao

Dr. Katherine W Getao is the Chief Executive Officer of the ICT Authority, a State Corporation under the Ministry of ICT in Kenya with a broad mandate towards the provision and regulation of ICT in the public sector as well as promoting ICT capacity and stimulating the growth and development of the ICT Sector.

Dr. Getao is passionate about a Kenyan ICT sector that is built on trustworthy values, excellent skills and infrastructure that is efficient and cost-effective. She has spearheaded the drafting of an ICT infrastructure Master Plan and forged partnerships with roads authorities to implement more rationalized approaches to national infrastructure development. Similarly, closer partnerships have been built with the education and energy sectors to ensure that all Kenyan children who attend public schools achieve a quality, competency-based education rooted in 21st Century digital skills.

In 2019, for the third time, Dr. Getao was selected to join the United Nations Governmental Group of Experts on International Security in the Context of Information and Telecommunications Technology (UNGGE) a group that makes policy recommendations on state to state Cybersecurity issues to the United Nations General Assembly. Through her work in this group Dr. Getao has been invited to comment on Cybersecurity issues in numerous international forums.

Before her appointment at the ICT Authority, Dr. Getao served as the Government of Kenya ICT Secretary, initially at the Office of the President and subsequently at the Ministry of ICT. Her passion for integration was demonstrated when she served as the results leader of the Huduma Kenya integrated public service delivery initiative, an initiative that transformed the way that Kenyan citizens access government services.

Dr. Getao taught and researched at the University of Nairobi for many years. She was the first female Director of the School of Computing and Informatics and led programmes to foster a vibrant research culture at the School. She has also managed the Nepad e-Schools programme, an ICT in education programme that spanned 16 African countries.

Dr. Katherine Getao holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Combined Sciences from Brighton Polytechnic, an M.Sc. in Intelligent Knowledge-based Systems from the University of Essex and a Ph.D. In Computing from Lancaster University all in the United Kingdom.
Her basic education was achieved in Kenyan public schools.

Dr. Getao enjoys writing, speaking and debating and adopts a thought-provoking and humorous tone in her communication that keeps audiences engaged. She is a woman of faith committed to transforming Kenya through the application of positive values and effective technology.