Busia County is leading among other counties in the country with 2G internet penetration, the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) Director General Francis Wangusi revealed.
Speaking during the official launch of the 14th edition of ICT Consumer Forum, ‘Kikao Kikuu’ hosted by Busia County Government at Agricultural Training College to discuss ICT connectivity, Wangusi said Busia tops with 99.1 per cent.
The CA Director General said the survey conducted in June last year has placed the County also among the top in 3G internet penetration with 94.5 per cent.
However, Wangusi released a damning revelation that Obaro Sub-location in Budalangi Constituency is the only area in Busia County with zero broadband (a very fast connection to the internet).
“Due to this unfolding scenario, Obaro in Bunyala South is among 78 sub locations that the CA will help to ensure it receives coverage of mobile telephone. Sh1.3b has been set aside for the project,” he said.
Deputy Governor Kizito Wangalwa who opened the Forum on behalf of Governor Sospeter Ojaamong said the area is not badly off, adding that he has been communicating with the area Chief.
Wangusi said internet connectivity is not to CA’s standards “We need to make the residents of the sub location feel part of the digital revolution,” he said.
Wangusi said 24 public schools in Busia including Butula, Nambale, Mundika, Budokomi, Moding, Namboboto and John Osogo for boys and Kolanya, Busiada, Namenya, St Monica Chakol and Bishop Sulumeti Girls are set to receive broadband internet connectivity.
He said the CA will sponsor the project for five years before it is handed over to individual schools to continue with it. Wangalwa said the County Government will benchmark on the project with a view to extending it to other schools across the county.
The Deputy Governor said plans are also in the offing to transform village polytechnics into centres of innovation to take advantage of ICT revolution in the County.
Prof Levi Obonyo said the uptake of ICT in Busia was very high and urged the County Government to take advantage of the emerging technology to benefit the residents.
Principal Secretary for ICT Sammy Itemere said the national government has opened up five studios, three in Nairobi and one each in Mombasa and Kisumu aimed at generating local talent, adding that a further 20 will be rolled out across the country.
Busia County Executive Committee Member for Finance and ICT Lenard Obimbira said the County was over 90 per cent IFMIS compliant. He said the County Government was digitalizing lands registry to facilitate rates collection.
