Consistent with its strategic objective of facilitating increased access to ICT services the Communications Authority of Kenya in partnership with the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) in 2012 established e-Resource centres in ten (10) community libraries in;

In supporting this project the Authority provided furniture, hardware and software, and Internet connectivity for two year all valued at Kshs 24 million.

Dzitsoni Community Library – Kilifi

In the second phase of this project, the Authority is supporting establishment of 46 addition e-Resource centres across the country. The Authority is contributing Kshs 167 million towards supply and installation of requisite furniture, computer hardware and software, local area network and Internet connectivity for two year.

In order to make timely and informed interventions towards Universal Access the Authority undertakes studies and research on a continuous basis.  Among the studies undertaken and currently underway are:

(a) Internet Market Study

The Internet Market Analysis study was undertaken in recognition of the increasing importance of  Internet to socio-economic development.   The study, whose focus was the Internet supply side, was therefore undertaken to create baseline information on the internet market in Kenya, identify internet penetration and factors attributed to it as well as provide appropriate policy and regulatory recommendations towards increasing the growth of this sub-sector.   The findings of this study are available at:

    Final Internet market analysis report

(b) National ICT Survey

In collaboration with Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the Authority undertook a  comprehensive national survey on ICT access and usage. Findings of the study shall inform formulation of progressive policy guidelines, access programmes, projects and strategies.

The main objective of the study was to collect, collate and analyse data relating to ICT access and usage by various groups in Kenya from both primary and secondary sources. The survey captured data and information on critical internationally recognized ICT indicators. The ICT indicators focused on household, individuals, institutions and businesses; and the data was disaggregated by age, gender, youth, administrative regions, rural and urban locations. The study forms the basis of a detailed ICT access and usage database that shall be updated on an annual basis.

The findings of the National ICT Survey are available at:

  National ICT Survey

(c) Access Gaps Study

To address the challenges of low penetration of ICT services among the population, the Government, through the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Act, 2013, created the Universal Service Fund (USF). The Fund is expected to leverage operations in high cost areas, support innovations in the sector and enhance ICT capacity in the country.

In order to lay down a strong and empirical foundation for the Fund, the Authority commissioned an Access Gaps study. The main objective of this study was to develop the most appropriate framework, based on international best practice that ensures provision of affordable ICT services i.e. telephony, Internet, postal services and broadband to all parts of the country including rural and high cost areas. This framework shall complement and not substitute the effective operation of market forces. Specific objectives of the study include:

• A review and assessment of the current and planned universal access programs by the Government, operators and other stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) sector in terms of their impact, satisfaction of demand for services and the costs and sustainability of the related investment.
• An analysis of the demand and supply for ICT services including telephony, Internet, postal and courier services and broadband in un-served areas, with specific emphasis on services that are in greatest demand in the respective areas.
• An evaluation of international best practices of universal access programs focusing on those which are most applicable to the Kenyan environment.
• The development of a financial model to estimate subsidies for identified Universal Access areas and programs with the aim of achieving the highest impact at the optimal cost/benefit ratios.

Through partnership with the Provincial Medical Office of Nairobi (PMO),  under the Ministry of Health of Kenya, Telkom Kenya (TKL), Axesstel, Research Triangle Institute (RTI) of USA and QUALCOMM “Wireless Reach Alliance” of South Africa, the Authority has supported the computerization of health facilities in Nairobi Province.

The objective of the partnership is to enhance efficiency of the reporting system between the health facilities under the supervision of the Nairobi PMO and the Logistics Management Unit (LMU)through a wireless connectivity to solve the critical need of replacing the manual process of reporting and ordering re-supply of ARV drugs by health facilities in Nairobi. This was to enhance the Logistics Management Unit’s (LMU) ability to process the re- supply of ARV drugs for therapy to HIV positive patients in 16 health clinics in Nairobi Province of Kenya.

In this project, the Authority supported the acquisition of computer hardware and software in the health centers according to technical specifications provided by RTI. Some of the health facilities supported under this program are Nairobi Remand Prison Health Center; Riruta Health Centre; Makadara Health Centre and  Mathari Hospital.

The primary objectives of the pilot project are:

• To demonstrate the use of wireless broadband technology to improve patient care by enhancing the efficiency of the reporting system between health facilities under the supervision of the Nairobi Provincial Medical Office (PMO);
• To improve the ability of health workers at Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) sites, pharmacists in the district, and the provincial pharmacist to communicate regarding changing policies and trends in ART; and
• Ensure that patients with HIV/AIDS within the locality of the health centres have a constant supply of anti retroviral drugs.

In the spirit of partnership with other public institutions and to encourage the development of relevant local content as a demand driver for ICT services, the Authority supported the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (formerly KIE) in its programme for digitization of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) curriculum. This is a land mark project that will enhance e-learning in the country and provide an incentive for teachers and students to access ICT services.

Through the support of the Authority, the Institute has been able to digitise 11 subjects for the Form 1 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) curriculum. In addition, the digitised subjects were piloted in 20 schools of which 16 are the beneficiaries of the Authority’s school-based ICT Centre initiative. The support from the Authority went into the acquisition of hardware and software and capacity building at a cost totalling Kshs. 15 million.

School-based ICT Centres
To bridge digital divide and enhance ICT capacity building in the country, the Authority in 2007 supported the implementation of 16 school-based ICT Centres. The model is built on the premise of using schools as hosts for ICT facilities, to take advantage of the organizational and administrative capacities of these institutions in planning and making the services accessible to the beneficiaries.

Garbatulla High School – Isiolo

The Authority provided requisite furniture; computer hardware and software in addition one year free Internet connectivity. The project continues to provide access to more than 5,404 students annually.

In recognition of the ICT needs of people with special needs, the Authority initiated a project  aimed at providing ICT solutions to Persons with Disabilities. The programme in this initiative include:

• Setting up school-based ICT Centres within post primary school institutions for PwDs;
• Creation of an accessibility web portal to provide information for and on PwDs in the country; and
• Conducting an awareness campaign on ICT and PwDs with a view of developing guidelines on ICT and PwDs.

Further, the Authority identified the following eight (8) institutions for people with physical, hearing and visual impairments to be on this programme.

Telecentres are community access points mainly adopted for rural and high cost areas to reduce the cost of individual ownership of equipment and service. The Authority has supported the establishment of four telecentres in Chwele (Bungoma West District), Mutomo (Mutomo District), Eldama Ravine (Koibatek District) and Kitundu (Makueni District). The Centers were provided with various communications services to enhance ICT capacity in the rural areas through training and access to information. The main objective of the telecentres strategy was to enable organized social groupings to integrate the capability of ICT platform into their daily income (livelihoods) generating and other socio-economic activities.

The Authority provided the centres with a server, two computers, a printer, as well as free internet connectivity for at least one year. The centres are run and managed on behalf of the local community through a partnership with institutions that have sufficient experience in rural ICT development. Some of the services provided at the centers include

1. Computer services
2. Data (Internet and e-mail)
3. ICT training services (e-learning)
4. Typing and printing facilities.

In 2007, the Authority established four (4) Community ICT Access points in;

• Sabatia Farmers Co-operative Society in Eldama Ravine which deals with dairy products.
• Mwavuli Self Help Group in Chwele and Sirisia which handle income generating activities.
• Mutomo Mission Hospital providing relevant information on Agriculuture, reproductive health and environment.
• Kitundu SDA church providing access to information and ICT training.

Sabatia Commuity Telecentre – Koibatek

This is a tripartite arrangement where the Authority collaborates with a development partner to support an organized grassroot community in the rural area. These centres provide ICT access and training for the target community.

The Authority supported the establishment of 16 School-based ICT centers, two in each of the eight provinces in the country. The primary objective of establishing these centres is to build ICT capacity and skills development in country.

The strategy is informed by  the high absorption and diffusion rate of new skills and technology within the students’ age-group.  Moreover, there is already in place an IT curriculum from the Ministry of Education that is to facilitate immediate uptake of the training.  The centers are expected to serve the school and the neighboring communities.

In this project, the Authority supplied each of the selected school with a server, four (4) computers, and a printer. In addition to this, the Authority supported the cost of servicing and maintenance for one year effective from May 2007, including the provision of free Internet connectivity. As part of their contribution to this project, telecommunication operators in the country committed to provide free Internet connectivity for at least 12 months.

Table 1: The number and names of 16 beneficiaries of the School based ICT program: