Kenyans residing in 19 counties will soon be able to take advantage of affordable internet services thanks to an agreement signed by Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the ICT Authority (ICTA) on Monday, on the installation of last mile fiber optic cable access.
Through the Universal Service Fund (USF), CA will finance the installation of fiber in the designated Counties at a cost of KSh. 5 billion under the Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA). This action is consistent with the USF goal of enabling the roll out of communications and infrastructure services in unserved and underserved communities.
The project supports the building of 100,000 kilometers of fiber as part of the Government Digital
Transformation Agenda’s (GoDTA) initiatives to improve broadband connectivity throughout the nation.
The project which shall be implemented within a maximum period of three (3) years will target Counties including Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu, Marsabit, Mandera, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Kitui, Laikipia, Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, Kitui, Makueni, Kajiado, and Narok. And will see the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the two institutions signed in December 2022 put into effect by the agreement.
At the signing event, CA Director General Mr. Ezra Chiloba declared, “What we are doing today is phenomenal and will greatly transform the country in the years to come.”
The relationship between ICTA and CA has been praised by Stanley Kamanguya, chief executive officer, as being extremely beneficial to achieving the goals of the digital transformation program adding that it’s interesting to start the 100,000-kilometer adventure now, he said.