Nairobi: The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) has launched the Universal Service Fund (USF) Strategy 2023-2027, a platform designed to enable Kenyans to engage actively in the global digital economy. The strategy aims to expand digital connectivity and infrastructure across the nation, ensuring equal access to communication and digital services for all citizens.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ms. Mary Mungai, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the Communications Authority of Kenya, emphasized that the USF aims to deepen meaningful ICT connectivity nationwide, ensuring that no Kenyan is excluded from the digital revolution, regardless of their location, income, age, or ability. She highlighted the initiative as part of the Kenya Kwanza Government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, focusing on the Digital and Creative Economy Pillar to positively impact the lives of Kenyans.
The new USF Strategy outlines a roadmap for bridging the digital divide, prioritizing inclusion, equity, innovation, and resilience while expanding digital infrastructure. Ms. Mungai commended the significant progress achieved since the USF’s operationalization a decade ago, attributing the success to the Authority’s efficient stewardship and proactive efforts in deploying ICT infrastructure.
The Digital Superhighway initiative, as described by Ms. Mungai, involves deploying 100,000 km of fiber and 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to provide broad access to broadband services. This initiative promotes digital skills and job creation through 1,450 ICT hubs across every ward in Kenya. The strategy also focuses on making digital access affordable, inclusive, and secure, empowering various sectors such as education, health, and entrepreneurship.
The government plans to enhance digital connectivity through the National ICT Master Plan, providing high-speed Internet to schools, hospitals, and businesses to improve service delivery, collaboration, and quality of life. Despite these advancements, Ms. Mungai noted existing challenges such as the high cost of devices and internet services, which hinder full participation in the digital economy. She assured CA’s commitment to bridging the digital divide, particularly among youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
In his remarks, James Ongwae, Chairman of the Universal Service Advisory Council, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to digital inclusion, aiming to reach every village, school, and home. The USF Strategy 2023-2027 focuses on expanding infrastructure, developing digital skills and local content, and enhancing institutional capacity to support these goals.
David Mugonyi, Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya, highlighted the USF’s achievements, including providing mobile connectivity to nearly 800,000 people across 156 sub-locations and transforming 56 public libraries into e-resource centers. The fund has also connected 886 public secondary schools to high-speed Internet and supports the establishment of ICT hubs and Centers of Excellence nationwide.
The USF Strategy aims to bolster digitization across critical sectors such as education, agriculture, justice, and health, ensuring access to essential services and information even in the most remote areas of Kenya.
