Authority spends Sh2.4 billion to connect remote villages

Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has spent more than Sh2.4 billion to connect thousands of Kenyans to mobile voice services in remote parts of the country including Kilifi County.

The agency said over 400,000 Kenyans living in 70 remote sub-locations are now connected.

The project has been facilitated by the Universal Service Fund (USF) to boost access to communication services.

A team that visited Milore village in Ganze sub-county, Kilifi, on Monday observed that villages that have been connected have transformed to business hubs.

Of the investment, Sh1.24 billion was spent on mobile voice services while Sh830 million was used to install broadband connectivity in schools.

USF aims to connect 348 sub-locations with mobile telecommunication services.

A team of top officials from CA and board members of USF has toured some of the sites which benefited from the new services.

The team included acting Assistant Director of USF Paul Kiaga and members of Universal Service Advisory Council.

“In 2016 we did a study to determine where there are no services. We found out that countrywide there are 348 sub-locations not covered by voice services,” said Mr Kiaga.

“In the first year, 202 sub-locations were tendered and 78 were picked by Safaricom and Telkom.”