The National Assembly Committee on Information, Communication and Innovation has extolled the ongoing internet connectivity initiative describing it as key facilitators of the country’s security, health and education sectors.
The committee said that the availability and access to internet is economically transforming the country as well as impacting on livelihoods.
While on a mission in Turkana, Uasin Gishu and Trans-Nzoia Counties to track and assess the status of the installation of the Eldoret-Nadapal Fiber-Optic Line, the MPs noted the use of internet by Police Stations has enhanced security surveillance and maintenance, combating crime particularly in Turkana County.
The Eldoret-Nadapal Fiber-Optic Line is a Government of Kenya project in partnership with the World Bank, dubbed the Eastern Africa Regional Transport, Trade and Development
Facilitation Project (EARTTDFP), which extends from Eldoret to Nadapal-Nakodok at the border with South Sudan.
“We have been able to go to Locheremoit Police Station and we were able to see how new ways of policing are assisting in the security efforts in this area to a level where our Police Commanders and the OCSs are talking about the great improvement in their operations and even in their efforts to curb crime in the area,” explained the National Assembly Committee on Information, Communication and Innovation Chair John Kiarie.
He added, “Coincidentally, the connections are coming at a time when Kenya is working on security in this part of the Country and even the road that we have come through is a road that has perennially had security issues but today we had a smooth ride all the way to the border of Turkana and West Pokot meaning that connectivity is able to solve age-old community problems as we have seen in agriculture, education, security, health and demonstrated in one far-flung County of Turkana”.
Kainuk Health Centre is one of the facilities benefitting from the EARTTDFP internet connectivity. The Health Centre Facility In-charge Edward Wabwile said the facility has immensely benefitted from the project. “Kainuk is one of the facilities that has benefited and we say thank you to the national government for implementing this. It has helped Kainuk Health Centre in timely digital reporting that involves the internet,” Mr Wabwile stated.
He said the community is similarly reaping from the connectivity. “Most of the youths around the community normally come at the facility for internet. But beyond the connectivity serving the Health Centre, we have a public Wi-Fi hotspot that is benefiting the community around Kainuki Centre,” explained Mr Wabwile.
Beside security, the MPs stated the internet has improved learning outcomes in the three Counties. “Today we have been able to go to Kawalase Primary School and we were able to see the impact of this connectivity on education. Children at the comfort of their computer room in Turkana are able to access the World Wide Web,” Mr Kiarie stated.
The Dagoretti South legislator further observed that with the availability of the internet, learners have been able to access their curriculum, set books and digital learning.
“Lessons are being projected out of a projector for these young learners to be at par with the rest of the world,” Kiarie said.
At the Civil Registration Centres, the internet connectivity is further a cornerstone to Officers working at the Centres.
Peter John a Civil Registration Officer at Eldoret West Sub-County in Uasin Gishu County said the internet is a crucial tool as they use to pay their salary.
“As an office we benefit from the internet as our payments are mostly done through the e-citizen portal so we get to use the internet in accessing the portal. Our members also get to access the public internet when we need them to maneuver any activity on the internet portal,” the Civil Registration Officer clarified.
He said young people, more particularly University and College Students are reaping from the connectivity too.
“The internet is quite stable. In the evenings as well, you can see the members of the public getting to access the internet around. When you walk around the compound or outside of the compound you find a lot of youth especially from the area using the internet,” the Civil Registration Officer added.
MPs also present during the mission include Baringo Women Representative Flowrence Jematiah Sergon, Njoroge Wainaina (Kieni), Hamisi Kakuta MaiMai (Kajiado East), Daniel Nanok (Turkana West) alongside Joyce Bensuda (Homa Bay Women Representative) and ICT-Authority officials among others.
The EARTTDFP covers the counties of Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Trans- Nzoia, West Pokot and Turkana where the entire implementation saw 193 subscriber sites installed along the corridor with most beneficiaries being schools, government institutions, hospitals/dispensaries and public WiFi at selected marketplaces.
By Douglas Namunane and Duncan Sikoyo
