James Ratemo
24 April 2008
Nairobi — The Government intends to roll out services to rural areas and create more jobs for youths through Digital Villages.
Opening a three-day ICT Development Expo on Wednesday in Nairobi, Trade minister, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, said unemployment and negative ethnicity monsters are still hurting the economy.
Uhuru called on stakeholders to embrace ICTs to open up opportunities in rural areas and provide linkages across the country.
"Soon a young man in Kacheliba will be able to chat with another young man in Nyeri and another one in Bungoma online. That is where Kenya is headed to," said Uhuru.
National Director Digital Villages Network, Mr Tom Kwanya, said the state targets 12 million Internet users, 6,000 digital villages and 2.4 million youth ICT workers by 2010.
Digital Villages, also called 'Pasha' (Swahili term for inform) centres are information centres utilizing Internet.
Information minister, Mr Samuel Poghisio, said the Government would introduce key ICT bills in Parliament to enhance the sector's growth.
Bills underway include, Broadcast, E-transactions and Freedom of Information.
He said his ministry has proposed to the Treasury to have taxes on mobile telephoning, film and related services reviewed to boost the economy.
Within the next three years, Poghisio said, the Government would target extending Internet coverage and digital villages to rural areas.
He urged ICT players to produce more local content to benefit when the much awaited fibre cable becomes operational by mid next year.
The cable dubbed, The East African Marine System, (Teams) would drastically reduce internet connectivity costs hence allow many entrepreneurs to start ICT businesses.
Already World Bank has approved the release of Sh610 million ($10 million) to support growth of digital villages across the country.
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