As a measure to promote access to information to all Kenyans, the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy has prioritized Mount Elgon area in Bungoma among areas that need a connectivity upgrade.
Speaking to journalists on an assessment visit .
The Administrative Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy Eric Kiraithe said the move to stabilize internet connectivity in Mount Elgon is in line with the constitutional requirements that every Citizen has the right to be reached by information, a course which he says Communications Authority of Kenya is adequately implementing.
Mount Elgon is among marginalized areas where digital connectivity is a problem, we are upgrading access to network in the area so that the residents of the area can easily access online services including government digital services
he said
Kiraithe has also louded private network providers for boosting connectivity, citing that Safaricom and Airtel have tremendously supplemented government efforts on connectivity.
“Initially we only had government but the private actors has boosted the speed,” he said.
He says the government of Kenya passed a law on Universal Service Fund to boost marginalized areas like Mount Elgon, Kwale, Kajiado, Turkana, Samburu among other areas citing that the implementation is already at the fourth face and the impact is already being felt.
“Here in Bungoma, we have already engaged the affected locations in Mount Elgon to get experience of residents who have given us positive feedback together with recommendations which we shall use to make it even better,” he said.
The connectivity upgrade involves the installation of digital receptors in marginalized areas to make internet and network accessible to rural areas up to at least 3G level.
The areas have been classified as either unserved or underserved depending on the situation at the time of assessment.
Bungoma County Commissioner Thomas Sankei used the opportunity to assure CAK that he will collaborate with residents of Mount Elgon to make the government plans successful.
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