Information Polity 18 (2013) 21–42 21 DOI 10.3233/IP-130294 IOS Press Negotiating e-politics: Initiating e-government in a municipal council in Kenya Jacqueline M. Klopp a,* , Elizabeth M. Marcello a , George Kirui b and Henry Mwangi b a Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA b Ipasha Infotec, Kenya Abstract. Most e-government literature examines outcomes and potential benefits. Yet it is also important to explore the ac- tual process of developing and implementing e-government systems in specific institutional and political environments. In this paper, we analyze the process of developing a website with the Municipal Council of Ruiru in Kenya, a country undergoing democratization and devolution of power. How to support a process that would enable the website to catalyze and support reforms in local government emerged as an important question in this context. We found strategically linking universities and local technology firms to government and fostering their interactions within e-government implementation a helpful approach. Conducting focus group discussions in the course of a participatory design process and discussing each stage of website devel- opment with key actors in the government helped bring citizen voices into the process and the final website content. Overall, for the website project to actually help improve government we found it is critical to go beyond participatory design towards a strategic, flexible and longer-term process of engagement in “e-politics”, the political negotiations over the use and control of the technology by the government. Keywords: E-government, Kenya, community participation, participatory design, ICTs, website, implementation 1. Introduction The idea that information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play a role in improving gov- ernment is popular. The notion of “e-government” or the government’s application of ICT to improve public access to information and enhance services, has gained traction 1 [52]. The use of the Internet for e- government, including the development of websites where information is posted and projects or budgets tracked, can help render critical information and transactions public and introduce more accountability. This, along with platforms that allow direct payment of fees or taxes, may increase efficiencies and cut out opportunities for some forms of graft and interference. Such technologies also create possibilities of organizing and opening new spaces for dialogue and interaction. Ideally then, e-government, including * Corresponding author: Jacqueline M. Klopp, Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. E-mail: jk2002@columbia.edu. 1 “E-government” and “e-governance” are often used interchangeably. However, we take e-government to refer to the use of ICTs by legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the bureaucracy of the state while executing public duties. E-governance is a broader notion that includes the use of ICT by a network of actors including the government but also civil society and the private sector in the course of making and implementing public policy and programs. 1570-1255/13/$27.50 c  2013 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved