The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) has unveiled a new initiative aimed at expanding communication infrastructure to both unserved and underserved regions within West Pokot County.
The initiative, which is part of a comprehensive government strategy, is intended to enhance communication infrastructure for the residents of West Pokot, a crucial step towards promoting interaction, peace, and security in regions facing instability.
Speaking during an inspection of the mobile network connectivity and digital superhighway projects in West Pokot County, a Director at the Communication Authority of Kenya and a member of the Universal Services Advisory Council, Benjamin Rop, revealed that officials from the authority conducted a visit to evaluate the current state of cellular mobile network coverage in the region, particularly focusing on areas that require significant improvements.
Rop emphasised that the Authority operates a Universal Service Advisory Council that is responsible for managing the universal service fund, which has been allocated by the government to support the connectivity of unserved and underserved populations with mobile network services for radio, television, and mobile phones in West Pokot County.
“We visited the region to ascertain the level of connectivity in all the sub-locations on mobile connectivity, broad pan and television connectivity,” he said.
“We are very happy we have been briefed by the county commissioner on the areas, and all the DCCs that are present have been briefed on the areas that need to enhance and improve communication connectivity,” he added.
Rop stated that the government understands that the most effective method to address security issues in regions plagued by insecurity is to establish connectivity.
He noted that a good communication network in the region would enable the County Commissioner and other security stakeholders to obtain real-time information from remote areas such as Kacheliba, Pokot South, and Pokot Central.
He said the Authority is collaborating with the office of the County Commissioner and the West Pokot County government to ensure connectivity throughout the region.
“We have marked around fifty-six government institutions, including twelve schools that are earmarked for connectivity, and we have talked with the commissioner, and they have requested with the Deputy County Commissioners that we prioritise schools that are border lines so that connectivity can allow us to combat the security from the border counties and countries like Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, and Uganda, so we are committed and we will work together,” he said.
A member of the Universal Service Advisory Council, Dr. Ferdinand Nyongesa, commended the government’s initiative, describing it as a significant opportunity for the residents of West Pokot.
He emphasised that this initiative would integrate the region into the digital platform mandated by the government, allowing residents to engage in both social and economic activities through the connectivity network being established in their communities.
He stated that the presence of communication infrastructure in the area would enable residents to access local and international markets for trade while also enhancing the educational system within the region.
Dr. Nyongesa encouraged residents and stakeholders to support the government’s initiative, as it promises to empower them both socially and economically.
Another member of the Universal Service Advisory Council, Elizabeth Limagur, emphasised that the government’s initiative to provide regions with robust communication infrastructure is integral to the bottom-up transformation agenda.
“The bottom-up transformation agenda seeks to improve communication flow by establishing digital platforms, applications, and networks within communities, thereby facilitating economic, social, and political transformation,” Ms. Limagur stated.
She noted that effective communication infrastructure enables the government to disseminate information more efficiently, allowing citizens to engage with their government more readily, which in turn can elevate communities from poverty and enhance their living standards.
“We are targeting areas that are undeserved, areas that are served, areas that are unreachable, inaccessible, so that they can also get the information that other people from other parts of Kenya are getting; that is why we are here as a team,” Ms. Limagur stated.
She stated that CA aimed to assess the impact of communication services and prioritise regions that required connectivity, as all residents have the right to access all the communication services.
In his remarks, West Pokot County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif announced that to date, sixteen sub-locations have been integrated with mobile network services, with ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity in the areas not connected with mobile networks, and nine more sub-locations are under consideration for future connectivity in the region.
He said the Communication Authority was in the process of deploying fibre optic cables to various public offices and institutions, including the offices of Deputy County Commissioners, health centres, schools, and remote regions within West Pokot County.
Khalif expressed his gratitude for the collaboration between the CA and the ICT Authority, which has significantly improved communication infrastructure for the residents, adding that a robust communication network in the region would facilitate better coordination of security matters by the local security teams.
He commended the Communication Authority for their dedication to extending communication infrastructure to remote areas that are often vulnerable to insecurity, such as Komolion, Pokot North, Akiriamet, and Pokot Central.
“We have proposed the border schools to be connected with the network services, and we are in agreement. We are therefore grateful that the Communication Authority has reached West Pokot County, and the remote areas are going to be connected, and we will have easy communication and security network services in those areas,” Khalif noted.
He stated that improved communication and internet connectivity in West Pokot County would also facilitate trade among the residents of West Pokot and their neighbours in Elgeiyo Marakwet and Turkana counties.
The County Commissioner noted that the enhancement of the mobile network connectivity and digital superhighway projects would also attract interactions between the residents of West Pokot and those across the border in the Amudat area of Uganda, particularly in districts such as Moroto, thereby providing them with greater opportunities for trade than previously experienced.
By Anthony Melly and Hildah Lodie