Image: NDICHU WAINAINA
Image: NDICHU WAINAINA
The Communication Authority of Kenya has encouraged the Nyandarua administration to educate residents on the benefits of emerging technologies.
The authority board chairman Ngene Gituku also urged Nyandarua residents to improve their digital skills to make ICT work for them.
Gituku spoke at Ol Kalou during the 18th Communications Authority of Kenya consumer forum held at Ol Kalou stadium yesterday.
He said that Nyandarua had embraced ICT but more needs to be done for a maximum benefit to the populace.
“My desire is to see ICT continue being the core enabler and facilitator to hasten the development agenda in Nyandarua county,” he said.
Gituku said Nyandarua farmers can leverage ICT to deal with challenges of climate change which is a key barrier to resilient food production.
He said that by embracing smart farming, local farmers stand a better chance in developing sustainable agriculture.
The CA board chairman said farmers are able to monitor the distribution of fertilisers, receive information on how to increase yields and access markets through the use of mobile devices in Kenya.
He noted that with over 65 per cent of households as mobile internet users, accessing such information or adopting smart farming is possible.
The board chairman encouraged Nyandarua farmers to take advantage of the ICT applications and services to increase the value of their produce.
Gituku said apart from farming, Nyandarua can also utilise ICT in health, education, trade and in other sectors.
He announced that Nyandarua is one of the beneficiaries of the Education Broadband to School Project which will complement other government projects.
Governor Francis Kimemia said having the forum held in Nyandarua was an exciting undertaking for the county.
“The focus on ICT utilisation is key to supporting our traditional economic activities and retain our competitiveness,” he said
Kimemia said his administration has developed an ICT roadmap to harness the benefits of its resources.
Nyandarua county, he said, offers free internet to public primary and secondary schools through a project implemented in partnership with Airtel Kenya.
The schools get a wireless router and 8GB data every month free of charge in the programme.
Kimemia said his government has developed integrated systems to run all county affairs which include automated revenue collection, bulk SMS, CCTV surveillance and e-staff management systems.
Ol Kalou library has also been digitised and four ICT centres set up at Youth Polytechnics in Mirangine, Kangui, Maahrati, and Kinangop.
This, he said, involved supply and installation of computers, fitting of furniture and installation of Local Arra Network (LAN)