TAFAKARI TZ: NAKURU- MJI WA KENYA WAPATA INTERNET YA BURE[Wi-Fi]

Nakuru has officially been made a free Wi-Fi zone making it the first town in Kenya to have unrestricted internet connectivity.

Nakuru is now the third town in Africa and 16th globally to have free Wi-Fi.

The free connectivity project, that is to be rolled out to other major towns in the country, was unveiled in an occasion attended by Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua, State House Digital Team and other sponsors on Sunday.

The Sh200 million project, which is a partnership between Statehouse Digital Team and the Nakuru County Government, is aimed at enhancing Information Communication Technology and ensure better service delivery.

Speaking during the function, Director of Digital Media and Diaspora Communication Mr Dennis Itumbi said the free connectivity will simplify public participation in governance through social media.

“Through this forum, one will not be required to go into a hall to air their views on how they want the county to be run, they can directly communicate with the government through its website,” he said.

Also launched was a new-look more vibrant and interactive Nakuru County Government website where social media users can directly drop comments. A training ICT centre where members of public will learn how to use social media was also launched.

The training centre, dubbed Digital Impact Centre, got a donation of eight computers from Inphonet services and will be stationed at the County Government offices.

Mr Itumbi said the project gives Nakuru residents a 24-hour internet connectivity and urged the people to exploit it for their economic good.

“The business community can use the internet to conduct international trade while university and college students can get free study materials,” he said.

He challenged university students do a study of e-governance before their international colleagues jump on it.

Governor Mbugua said the project would make Nakuru a regional and international business hub and that it would enable easier interaction between his government and the public.

“I am happy that those who installed the free connectivity blocked phonography and other offensive sites and now our people, students included can access useful information,” said the governor.

He thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta and the State House Digital Team for making Nakuru the first beneficiary of free Wi-Fi

Mr Itumbi had earlier indicated that the partnership to offer free internet was one of the promises made by the Jubilee coalition during its campaigns.

He said the first phase will facilitate the free connectivity into a radius of five to 10 kilometres from the County headquarters and will be later rolled out to Naivasha and Molo towns within Nakuru County.