Orange Kenya has rolled out Wi-Fi in Bungoma County in Western Kenya. According to the company, the Wi-Fi service, for the moment, covers the county headquarters in Bungoma and the town. The company did however reveal that the second phase of the project, which will be launched at a later date, will cover the entire sub-counties and the adjacent areas.
Company CEO, Vincent Lobry, stated that the provision of wireless Internet in Bungoma County is part of the company’s strategy of spreading its data solutions offering into the counties and supporting its mandate to provide broadband access for all citizens.
“The solution will also aid in opening up opportunities for business in these areas, as well as support the county governments to improve on their service offering through integrated ICT solutions,” said Lobry.
“We are committed to ensuring that most of our county residents enjoy free Internet in partnership with Telkom Kenya. We will cascade to the wards and introduce the hotspots after we are through with the sub-counties,” says Kenneth Lusaka, the Bungoma County Governor.
According to standardmedia.co.ke, the roll-out of Wi-Fi in Bungoma comes a short while after the publication of misinformed media reports on Orange as having terminated its partnership with the Nakuru County Government on the provision of free Wi-Fi.
The Wi-Fi project was initiated in April 2014 by Infonet, a Kenya-based group working towards improving interaction between governments, civil society and citizens through ICT.
Darryl Linington
