The government will now rely on existing powers to roll out fibre connectivity, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has said.
Owalo said the ministry has abandoned the digging up of trenches for connectivity.
Owalo, who launched free public wifi hotspots at Ajigo and Ndori markets in Rarieda, Siaya county on Friday, said the digital transformation agenda is on.
He said the government is rolling out a 100,000 kilometre fibre optic cable to ensure the entire country gets affordable and reliable internet.
“We have now changed the model as opposed to digging the trenches along the ground. We are now going to use the existing electricity transmission lines to connect the fibre,” he said.
He said where there is electricity, there will be fibre connectivity, adding that the move will facilitate e-commerce.
The wifi hotspots he launched will help traders market their goods and services on digital platforms.
Owalo said the government plans to set up 25,000 public wifi hotspots in the markets across the country as part of its digital transformation agenda.
“We want the traders to take advantage of the wifi to improve their businesses. The traders can now take photos of their products and post them on the technological platforms for buyers who will pay through mobile services and have their goods delivered,” he said.
Owalo was accompanied by Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, Kenya Institute of Mass communication board chairman Charles Owino, former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and Siaya county commissioner Susan Waweru.
The CS reiterated the commitment in leveraging technology to facilitate trade through provision of free Wifi and reduction of internet costs.
“The government will fulfill the pledge by intervening in the market to not only reduce the cost of data but also provide free wifi,” Owalo said.
He said the Kenya Kwanza government has initiated a comprehensive programme for training the youth on digital skills that will enable them to get jobs online.
Through the digital programme, the government targets to create one million jobs to curb unemployment among the youth.
Besides the fibre connectivity, it will establish digital hubs in each and every ward.
He said the only way to address the high unemployment rate is through digital platforms, noting that white collar jobs are limited.
Digital space has enormous job potential, which should be embraced and exploited.
So far, the government has trained 390,000 youths in the digital space, with 135,000 given digital jobs.
“This is part of the government's way of tackling unemployment. President William Ruto is leading this agenda from the front,” Owalo said.
The government will not allow youths to roam yet there are jobs in the digital space.
“We are going to connect internet in all the markets to allow our traders to embrace e-commerce. During this digital era, it is no longer necessary to have a physical interface between buyers and sellers of products,” Owalo said.
‘‘We have a limitation of white collar jobs and the avenue where we have a potential of creating these jobs for the youth is the digital space,” he added.
Owalo said the government will partner with MPs to establish 1,450 digital hubs in each ward in the country for the youth to access online jobs.
“The MPs will provide the facilities and pay the electricity bills while the national government will provide devices in these digital hubs and train the youth, and connect them with employers,’’ he said.
The government was committed to transforming the country into a digital economy saying so far more than 7,543 government services have been digitised in the past one year.
‘‘The plan is to have all government services on digital platforms. When we took over the government, only 350 government services were available online,’’ he said.
The CS said digitisation of government services will reduce bureaucracy, curb corruption and enhance efficiency.
‘‘The public will no longer visit government offices for services. They will do it from the comfort of their homes and eliminate cartels. We do not want to have a situation where technocrats demand bribes,’’ Owalo said.
He said the government is collaborating with some private companies to provide cheaper smartphones to Kenyans.
So far, 194,000 have been assembled in the country since last year, with three million phones by the end of the year.
‘‘We are aware of the challenges of smartphones and the government is intervening to have phones that go for Sh5,000 in the next two months,’’ he said.
Owalo urged Kenyans to support the government and give it ample time to deliver on its pledges.
He said elections were over and President Ruto has directed to serve all Kenyans irrespective of political affiliation.
