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Kenya’s quest to transform the country into a digital hub last week received a shot in the arm after the World Bank extended a Ksh52 billion loan facility for free WI-FI installation in 25,000 located WI-FI hotspot zones.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo says the amount will boost the WI-FI program, and is expected to reduce the cost of internet by 60 percent.
As an epicenter in innovation, the project will accelerate the digital economy, targeting to promote digital inclusion and improve access to government services.
In an exclusive interview with one of the local outlets, the World Bank Country Director for Kenya, Keith Hansen said the end goal of the project is to sustain millions of Kenyans who are unable to access internet services across the country.
“Broadening access to digital technologies and services is a cross-cutting pathway to accelerate economic growth and job creation, improve service delivery and build resilience,” said Hansen in a interview with Business Daily.
The located WI-FI hotspot zones include public areas such as libraries, schools, health centers, and markets.
However, Ksh13.3 billion more is anticipated to be generated from the private sector in funding the project.
Apart from the installation, the allocated amount will also be used to repair 2500 kilometers of damaged, and old fiber networks as well as establish village digital hubs.
The initiative will be part of the pilot program of manufacturing cheap smartphones in the country that is expected to take off latest June 2023.
The government started establishing the WI-FI hotspot areas in November 2022 with the ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo revealing that the mapping out areas will sustain the free internet coverage for public use.
Owalo said the government would fulfill its promise to connect free internet to Kenyan households to enable the youth to access opportunities online.
“We will be doing this in all parts of the country. We have started with the internet, we will ensure that it’s not just in every village but it will get into each and every household,” he said.