NAIVASHA — The Kenyan government, through the Universal Service Fund (USF), is set to release Sh2.8 billion to enhance digital connectivity across the country, focusing on bridging the digital divide in underserved areas. Principal Secretary of the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Professor Edward Kisiang’ani, announced this significant financial commitment, aimed at facilitating the integration of technology in daily life and boosting economic opportunities for all citizens.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Treasury will disburse the funds next week, earmarked for the development of 25,000 WiFi hotspots and 1,450 digital hubs across all constituencies. These hubs, categorized into centers of excellence, standard, and ordinary, are intended to provide superfast broadband access and a range of community and business services, especially in rural villages to enhance internet accessibility.
During a stakeholders’ workshop organized by Parliament in Naivasha, Professor Kisiang’ani highlighted the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) will allocate three percent of its budget towards the infrastructural development of these digital hubs. He stressed the importance of digital literacy, stating that the hubs will serve as centers for citizen digital literacy training, film creation, and public access to government services.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to lay 10,000 kilometers of fiber under the digital superhighway initiative, aimed at providing digital connectivity, fostering the development of digital skills, and creating job opportunities. Professor Kisiang’ani also mentioned the recent approval of a new structure for the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications and ongoing efforts to promote career advancement within the department.
However, the Principal Secretary expressed concerns over the negative media coverage of government initiatives and called for a more balanced representation of the country’s progress. Dagoretti South Member of Parliament and Chair of the Communication, Information Innovation Committee, John Kiarie Waweru, echoed the importance of digital infrastructure development but pointed out the challenge of insufficient funding to the Ministry of Information, Communications, and Digital Economy. Despite these financial constraints, Kiarie emphasized the ministry’s commitment to advancing the government’s digitization and digitalization agenda.
Kiarie revealed that the government had already digitized over 15,845 services, a move expected to seal revenue leakages and enhance revenue collection. He also highlighted the distribution of 1.2 million Digital Literacy (DL) devices across 22,000 schools to boost digital literacy among students.
Looking forward, the Kenya Kwanza Administration plans to establish 25,000 WiFi hotspots, build 1,450 digital hubs, and lay an additional 100,000 kilometers of fiber to accelerate the country’s digitization efforts over the next three years. Kenya’s commitment to digital advancement is further underscored by its ten-year digital master plan, which focuses on digital infrastructure, services, skills, and innovation as key pillars for fostering economic growth and development.
