The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has connected 14 sub-locations to mobile network services in West Pokot County. The project is under CA’s Ksh.1.1 billion Universal Service Fund (USF), a special fund that seeks to avail communications services to 101 areas across the country.
CA Director General Mr. Ezra Chiloba said the 14 sub-locations were among those identified for connectivity in the second phase of the implementation of the USF.
The USF Voice Infrastructure Connectivity project was launched at Akiriamet, one of the beneficiary sub-locations in West Pokot County. Others are Kases, Kiwawa, Meshau, Lotokum, Kola, Ompolion, Kaptolomwo, Kachawa, Amaler, Emboasis, Kokwoptorir, Marus, and Pkpogoh.
CA says it is targeting to connect 101 sub-locations across 19 Counties by June this year.
‘‘This project will facilitate residents of the beneficiary sub-locations to enjoy a host of services, including mobile voice, data, Internet, and a bouquet of other value-added services, including mobile money transfer services,’’ said Mr. Chiloba.
The connectivity of 14 sub-locations now brings the total sub-locations connected in West Pokot County to 17 after three others, namely, Apuke, Lopet, and Chepserum benefitted in the first phase.
Under the first phase, CA also connected seven public secondary schools to high-speed Internet in the area out of the 884 connected across the country.
The schools are St. Elizabeth Girls Morpus, St. Theresa’s Tartar Girls, Kapenguria Boys, St. Cecilia Chepareria, St. Comboni Amakuriat, Nasokol Girls, and the Holy Cross Boys Secondary School.
The Authority is now in the planning stages of the third phase of the project, which will target 68 sub-locations across the country, seven (7) of which as in West Pokot County.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Mr. Joe Mucheru who graced the occasion said the Universal Service Fund projects were greatly complementing the various initiatives that the government put in place to narrow the digital divide, lower the costs of communications services, and enhance the country’s competitive edge in ICT developments.
‘‘The cost of services can only be reduced if there is a deliberate effort for operators to collaborate in the deployment of infrastructure. When the private sector collaborates on infrastructure sharing, a significant amount of investment costs could be saved and thereby prevent the duplication of similar infrastructure on the same route,’’ he added.
The Cabinet Secretary challenged the Authority to consider implementing other projects to address communications gaps in broadcasting and postal and courier services in rural and other high-cost areas.
‘‘As we develop the telecommunications and Internet services, we need to focus also on these other sub-sectors because they are not only contributing to the kitty but also because the sub-sector provides important services to the communities,’’ he said.
