Kenya Power, ICT Ministry partner to deliver affordable fiber optic network

 

Information, Communications and the Digital Economy CS Eliud Owalo

The government is set to save Ksh 170 billion through a deal between the Kenya Power Company and the Ministry of ICT, utilizing Kenya Power’s transmission lines to roll out 100,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country.

This was revealed by Information, Communications and the Digital Economy CS Eliud Owalo, who said the deal is not only cost-effective but also ensures efficiency in the delivery of the fibre optic cable by 2026, a year earlier than initially planned.

CS Owalo explained that the initial plan of digging trenches to lay the cable would have cost taxpayers Ksh 2.3 million per kilometre, compared to the current plan of using Kenya Power transmission lines at a cost of Ksh 600,000 per kilometre.

“The use of Kenya Power transmission lines to deliver the 100,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable is not only cheaper but will also allow us to complete the job a year earlier than anticipated,” Owalo stated.

He noted that the arrangement with Kenya Power will also enable the delivery of high-speed internet connectivity to every household and business premises with Kenya Power meters once completed.

Speaking at Nyamira Girls High School in Siaya County during the school’s ICT day, Owalo emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that everyone in the country has access to high-speed internet connectivity, a key enabler of economic growth.

“The government plans to revitalize and rejuvenate the performance of all sectors of the economy by leveraging ICT. That is why we are committed to delivering 100,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable to provide high-speed internet to every part of the country by 2026,” said Owalo.

The CS highlighted that the creation of 1,450 digital hubs across the country will address the problem of rural-urban migration by providing job opportunities for the youth in their local areas.

“With digital hubs connected to high-speed internet established in all wards across the country, the youth will not have to migrate to cities for jobs. They will be able to work for companies worldwide from their local digital hubs,” he said.

Owalo noted that once the youth are trained through the public digital hubs, it is expected that they will establish their private digital hubs, benefiting additional youths even in remote parts of the country.

“Through the multiplier effect, we will have a critical mass of digital hubs in villages, reducing idle youth due to a lack of gainful activities,” Owalo said.

He disclosed that currently, over 2,000 registered students are undertaking higher education on the e-learning platform domiciled at Konza.

“In October last year, President William Ruto commissioned the open university where students can leverage the e-learning platform to access higher education, which was previously expensive and exclusive.”

The ICT and Digital Economy boss said that the e-learning platform promoted by the Kenya Kwanza government is both affordable and inclusive, enabling students to access education without being confined to traditional classroom settings.

by KNA