Garissa: The government is relying on the already existing Kenya Power (KP) infrastructure and power lines to drive fibre connectivity countrywide according to the Parliamentary ICT committee chairperson and Dangoreti MP John Kiarie. Speaking in Garissa town where he is leading his committee and ICT sector stakeholders on a fact-finding tour in Garissa Township and Lagdera sub counties, Kiarie said that by using the KP lines, the government would be able to reach to the far-flung areas and connect them to internet.
According to Kenya News Agency, the chairperson noted that the committee was also assessing telephony and internet connectivity in Garissa County especially in relation to security, education, and business. ‘We are here to note areas of concern, areas of growth, areas that require development and also to appreciate the reforms being made by our sector players. This committee is keen to first take stock of the progress that has been made in terms of connectivity in Garissa County and also identify the gaps that need to be filled,’ Kiarie said.
‘In our sector, we have been bold and very innovative in how we bring connectivity to far-flung areas and one of the bigger innovations in the sector has been for us to be able to carry fibre connectivity, not by trenching along the connectivity lines but by taking advantage of already existing electricity connectivity. We are backing on the Kenya power company to be able to carry the fibre cabling to the grassroots,’ he added.
The Dangoreti MP further noted that the committee was also gauging whether their recommendation on the sector improvements especially on community Wifi was being implemented for the benefit of the citizens. He said that at the end of their working tour, the committee would file a report on their findings with recommendations on issues that require legislation, oversight, policy formulation, and sector leadership gaps.
‘As a committee, we are tasked with superintending and oversight over the entire sector of communication, information and innovation. We have key projects going on across the country including the Kenya Digital Masterplan that is seeking to cover the entire country. We also have the mandate of oversighting issues of connectivity to see that there is good connectivity both for mobile telephony and also for internet connection,’ he said.
‘We are also keen to establish whether our ideas on community connectivity to WiFi are taking off in the county for the benefit of the users here for business and for education. We will want to also see how the whole area of connectivity speaks to security, education, administration and even for business and enterprise,’ he added.
ICT Authority Chief Executive Officer Jessy Maruti echoed the chairperson’s sentiments noting that the Authority was taking advantage of the KP power lines for the last mile internet connectivity. Apart from targeting to establish 25,000 public Wi-Fi spots across the country, the Authority is also seeking to connect 6,000 public institutions to internet and create 1,450 digital hubs in all wards.
The CEO said that once all the public Wi-Fis are in place, there are plans to hand them over to community members in the markets to monetize and run them independently. ‘As ICT Authority, we are taking advantage of KP lines to provide last mile connectivity initiative. We intend to connect up to 6,000 institutions using Kenya power lines. In Garissa, we are doing the last mile connectivity and we have the infrastructure to provide the connectivity,’ Maruti said.
The committee chairperson was also accompanied by MPs Alfah Miruka (Vice Chairperson), Umi Harun (Nominated), and Florence Jematia (Baringo Women Rep), Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo among other ICT sector leaders.