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{
"id": 1556421,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556421/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. William Kabogo",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Digital Economy",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As I attempt to answer clearly and give details, I also want to undertake that we shall supply comprehensive answers to these questions within the next three days, so that every Member's question is properly answered. However, I shall attempt to answer. On the first question, why the delay in establishing networks in borders of Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, hinder security forces? When do we intend to establish networks? We are not planning, we are actually laying fibre. As I said earlier, we target to do 100,000 kilometres of fibre. This is happening between Information Communications Technology Authority (ICTA), and Kenya Power. Why Kenya Power? It is because as I came in, I found that it was established, that doing it through Kenya Power over the last mile would be easier and faster. We are actually on top of it. On the issue of those areas that have digital divide, which have no coverage, we are working with satellite providers, like we just licenced Starlink, which is widely used even in urban areas. We hope to continue to collaborate with them for places where we have not been able to reach our fibre optic. Mr. Speaker, on the question from Hon. Maanzo, security is connected to communications. What I am doing to support development of these towns, especially in Turkana, it is through this fibre optic that we would want to connect the entire republic with high-speed and reasonably-priced internet. We shall give a detailed action that is going on to connect the republic. To my friend, the Sen. Mungatana, how telecommunications will reach areas like Tana River, we are already laying cables to those areas. We shall give the hon. Member details of where we will have reached by the end of this month and what we plan to do in the next three months. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the activity is very well funded by several projects and donor partners like the World Bank and others. There is also use of the Universal Service Fund (USF) for purposes that it was set to be used. A few Members have said that a lot of money lies idle. We should be able to give the same details of what has been spent in the last five years and what is happening now with the USF. It is my commitment that money shall be used in accordance with the law, but also to make sure that Kenya is completely connected. I think it was Hon. Wambua who raised the issue of space of communication, at what point will be end of planning stage and enhance action. As I said, it is now that we are connecting. We are not planning. We are connecting Kenya now. We have very little funding from GoK, but as I said earlier, The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}