Kenya set to digitalise villages

Kenya will soon be embarking on an ambitious plan to create digital centres in 210 constituents across the country which will help enhance development through ICT, the Deputy Minister of Communications in Kenya Dhadho Godhana revealed the plan in an interview with ITnewsAfrica.com.

Ghodhana said that despite their efforts to reach out to the rural populace they haven’t achieved their set target as yet which has led the government to moot this plan to have digital hubs across the country.

“We have not been able to reach out the rural areas with ICTs but we have put in place plans that will make villages digital hubs. We still need to develop infrastructure for the whole country and also train those who will responsible for them,” he said.

The minister added that the project will be funded by the World Bank in collaboration with the Kenyan government.
The digital centres will be used promote local content production and facilitate e-commerce.
Kenya, recently said it was concerned about the slow rate of information technology (IT) advancement in the country and Africa as a whole.

A top government official, Barry Wanjigu, was recently quoted in the media lamenting the slow progress of accelerating ICTs growth.

He said lowering costs of hardware and software, among them connectivity, were the main challenges Kenya had to address in order to boost its information and technology research in the country.
“I am encouraging research and increasing e-commerce readiness and use of information technology strengths, especially in Kenya, which is now enjoying political stability and this is vital in any country that is trying to advance.

“Internet use is growing rapidly in Kenya and has one of the largest internet sectors on the African continent with more than 30 licensed ISPs.
“The internet is available in universities, internet cafes, community information centres and public libraries. More importantly, the privatisation of Telkom Kenya was another positive move aimed at harnessing technology,” said Wanjigu.

By Samuel Mungadze