The government is set to save Sh170 billion from the deal entered between the Kenya power company and ministry of ICT where Kenya power transmission lines are being used to roll out the 100 thousand fibre optic cable throughout the country, ICT and the Digital Economy CS Eliud Owalo has revealed.
CS Owalo said the deal is not only cost effective but would also ensure efficiency in the delivery of the fibre optic cable by 2026 and not 2027 as was initially planned.
“The use of Kenya power transmission lines to deliver the 100 thousand kilometers of fibre optic cable is not only cheap but will also see us complete the job a year earlier than anticipated,” Owalo said during ICT day at Nyamira girls’ high school in Bondo, Siaya County.
He noted that the government is committed to ensuring that everyone in the country has access to high speed internet connectivity because it’s a key enabler of economic growth.
He also said the initial plan of digging trenches to lay the cable cost tax payers Sh2.3 million per kilometer which was deemed to be expensive compared to the current plan of using Kenya power transmission lines at a cost of Sh600 thousand per kilometer.
Once completed, the arrangement with Kenya power will enable the delivery of high-speed internet connectivity to every household and business premises fitted with Kenya power meters.
“The government has plans to revitalise and rejuvenate the performance of all sectors of the economy leveraging on ICT and that is why we are committed to ensure the delivery of the 100 thousand kilometers of fibre optic cable to avail high speed internet to every part of the country by 2026,” he said, adding that the creation of 1450 digital hubs across the country will solve the problem of rural-urban migration of the youth who migrate to cities in search of jobs.
“With Digital hubs connected to high speed internet established in all wards across the country the youth will not have to migrate because of the existing opportunities on the digital platforms which will enable them to work for companies from different parts of the world… through the multiplier effect we will have critical mass of digital hubs in the villages and we will not have idle youth because of lack of gainful activities,” he explained.
At the moment, there are over 2000 registered students undertaking high education on E- learning platform domiciled at Konza, with the CS saying that the Kenya Kwanza government is promoting inclusivity in the education sector in a world where institutions no longer need to confine students to four walled classrooms.
“In October last year president William Ruto commissioned the open university where student can leverage of E- learning platform to access higher education which was not only expensive but was characterised by exclusivity.” -By Brian Ondeng/KNA
