Principal Administrative Secretary for the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy, Eric Kiraithe, has announced that the government is conducting comprehensive nationwide assessments to identify areas lacking sufficient network connectivity.
Speaking in Bungoma during a press interview, Kiraithe emphasized the government's commitment to addressing underserved areas in terms of internet connection.
He highlighted that the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) serves as the regulatory authority for the ICT industry in Kenya, overseeing responsibilities in telecommunications, e-commerce, broadcasting, postal/courier services, and cybersecurity.
As a former Government spokesperson, Kiraithe added that CA is also responsible for managing the country’s numbering and frequency spectrum resources, administering the Universal Service Fund (USF), and safeguarding the interests of consumers of ICT services.
Kiraithe stated that the Authority, through the USF, has a mandate to enhance access to communication services in Mt Elgon.
"To determine the extent of communication services accessed by Kenyans, the Authority regularly conducts studies recommending priority areas for Fund implementation. The first study was conducted in 2016, followed by a second one in 2021," he explained.
Over the past five years, the Authority has executed various projects nationwide, notably the Education Broadband Connectivity initiative, successfully linking public secondary schools to high-speed Internet.
In Bungoma County, 54 schools, including those in Mt Elgon, benefited from this project.
Additionally, the Authority has undertaken multiple projects to enhance access to diverse communication services across the country.
In the mobile connectivity project, 117 sub-locations, encompassing over 750,000 people in 24 counties, now have access to mobile services.
Notably, six sub-locations in Bungoma County, namely Chepkurkur, Emia, Kabura, Chepyuk, Korg’otuny, and Kaimugul, have been connected.
Through the Education Broadband Connectivity Project, schools have seamlessly integrated the Internet into learning, significantly improving the educational experience.
The ongoing Phase II of the mobile connectivity project targets 101 unserved and underserved sub-locations across 19 marginalized counties, with a particular focus on addressing connectivity challenges in Mt Elgon.
Thomas Sankei, Bungoma County Commissioner, commended the ICT Authority's efforts, emphasizing the critical role of network connection in the security sector. He expressed confidence that the initiative would facilitate timely information dissemination, acknowledging the government's strides in digitizing services for efficient communication among departments and the public.
