The government of Kenya, through the ICT Board, will from this May subsidise internet provision for all digital villages, with the high cost of bandwidth still seen as one of the greatest challenges to connectivity in the country.
The programme project to subsidise the Pasha centres – as they commonly referred to – is under the Transparency Communication Infrastructure Project (TCIP) and funded by the World Bank.
It targets 63 digital villages, allowing them to purchase high quality and affordable connectivity, with the cost of bandwidth still termed as a major challenge to upcoming IT businesses.
Kenya ICT Board chief executive officer (CEO) Paul Kukubo says the project, which will last up to 18 months, will further enable information sharing and offer affordable access in rural areas.
“We have recognised that the major challenges surrounding internet access for Pashas centers are connectivity and affordability. As a solution we have decided to subsidise the internet costs,” said Kukubo.
According to the agreement the government will pay 90 per cent of internet costs, while Pasha managers at various centres will come up with 10 per cent of the funds. Centres will have to raise their own money for the purchase of connectivity equipment.
The Pasha managers will also be charged with vetting the best internet service providers (ISPs), who must be registered by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK).
“Pasha centres are strategically placed to bring ICT services to their communities. To succeed they need to take advantage of devolution opportunities and respond to the government agenda of delivering digital education in remote areas,” said Kukubo.
He was speaking during a workshop bringing Pasha managers from various parts of Kenya together with ISPs in Nairobi.
