In Kenya, works to extend the telecom infrastructure in underserved localities have been slowed down due to the current pandemic and the ongoing insecurity in the regions. This was reported on August 19 by Mercy Wanjua (pictured), the Managing Director of the Communication Authority (CA) to justify the delay in works.

Mercy Wanjua told the Senate Committee on ICT that the situation is mainly observed in the regions of Garissa, Mandera, Samburu, Marsabit, and West Pokot, but works could be completed by end-2020.

Supporting the statements of Mercy Wanjua, the ICT Minister Joe Mucheru indicated that there are indeed localities that are not yet covered because the Air Force has instructed a stop in works for security reasons. He added that talks between his ministry and the army are underway to find a consensus. “Once that is done we will see hundred percent coverage of the country, you will not see some areas have 2G while others have 4G,” Mucheru said.

The telecom infrastructure expansion was entrusted to the operators Safaricom and Telkom. Priority is given to localities with network coverage of less than 30%, which are not covered by the operators' obligations to roll out the network by 2022, as well as localities with a population of 1,000 or more.