The meeting has been set for this week between Orange Telkom Kenya and the government to decide whether the company will continue managing the country’s National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) programme, which has seen uptake below 50 per cent despite KSh5 billion (US$57.7 million) investment.
HumanIPO reported last month Kenya’s Ministry of ICT cabinet secretary Dr Fred Matiangi had written to the company informing it of his ministry’s intention to cancel a lucrative contract after suggestions France Telecom is looking to dispose of its operations in the country.
The company was also accused in July last year by deputy presdent William Ruto of mismanaging the state-owned fibre optic network, which earns Orange KSh250 million (US$2.9 million) in fees annually.
The Standard reports Matiangi as saying the government will inform the company of its issues during the closed-door meeting, saying Orange will also table its own concerns.
“We will table our concerns and see if the government is satisfied with the way it is done. They will also table their issues and I am happy that everyone wants to talk,” he said.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
NOFBI, which covers most districts in the country, was funded by Communications Commission of Kenya on behalf of the government, with the infrastructure intended to roll out its e-government plan.
