The country is witnessing a state of digital transformation, largely powered by locally assembled smartphones, with 390,000 devices sold since the October last year, the initiative was intended to bridge the technology gap by easing access to digital services.
The Rise of Locally Assembled Smartphones
Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has hailed the milestones so far made in the production of affordable smartphones locally. Owalo said this while speaking during the launch of the Jitume Project at Seme Technical and Vocational College in Kisumu County, rooting for accessible and affordable technology that would help bridge the digital divide.
Many Kenyans still lack access to a smartphone. In contact with the private sector, the government has initiated the local assembly of affordable Kenyan smartphones. This means that we won’t need to import phones from places like China or Korea, said Owalo.
The Neon Brand: Accessible and Affordable
The Neon brand handset which is locally assembled and retailing at Sh7,499 per unit, is now available in all Safaricom branches and Jamii Telecom shops countrywide. The handsets are designed to give pertinent features that would allow one to access government services conveniently from anywhere.
“These smartphones come with all essential features, allowing users to access government services conveniently from anywhere. There will no longer be a need to visit government offices in person,” Owalo added.
Digital Transformation and Government Services
The Kenyan government, under the leadership of the administration of the Kenya Kwanza, leads a digital transformation to ensure efficient and effective service delivery of government services. Owalo assured this would eliminate the need for personal connections in having such services.
“This shall be a direct interaction between you as a Kenyan and your phone and the government. You won’t require to know anyone in any government office to access these services. You will be able to apply for an ID or a passport virtually,” he explained.
Bigger Digital Infrastructure
The government has teamed up with the Kenya Power Company in an effort to support the agenda for digital transformation by further expanding fibre connectivity, ensuring reliable and long-term ability to sustainably connect with the Internet anywhere across the country. As of January 2023, about 11,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables were laid out, with the projection to attain 100,000 kilometres by 2026.
“We are dumping the old method of laying fibre cables underground, which has been vulnerable to acts of vandalism. This time, we shall ride on Kenya Power’s transmission lines,” said Owalo. Kenya Power has hired 300 contractors, spread in equal number throughout the country that have started on this vast undertaking.
Buildout
The plan is that fibre connectivity will be extended to all existing transformers that number 74,000 countrywide. In a short and long-term move, this will see institutions and public places such as market centres within the surroundings where the transformers are located get Internet connections.
“We will extend fibre connectivity to all existing 74,000 transformers. Once fibre is connected to these transformers, we can provide internet access to nearby institutions and public spaces such as market centres”, the CS noted.
Further, Owalo confirmed the ongoing of the last mile electricity connectivity project to ensure sufficient electricity supply which supports the digital infrastructure.