ICT Board to release funds for digital villages

By Fredrick Obura

The Kenya ICT Board has set aside Sh27 million to put up digital villages project across the country before end of the year.

However, the money, which is part of a revolving fund from the World Bank, will only support 27 entrepreneurs – down from last year’s 37. The digital villages will help build IT capacity in the rural areas and transform Kenya’s economy into knowledge based one.

Goal

“With support of the World Bank, we have established 63 centres in various constituencies. We loaned funds to 37 entrepreneurs who are in charge of running the already established 63 digital villages. Our target is to capture 210 constituencies in the long term,” said Kwame Shiroya, programme assistant Kenya ICT Board.

Digital divide

The digital villages are meant to provide services such as printing, Internet browsing, agency banking and other IT services to the rural areas. This is expected to bridge the digital divide in the country.

“We are trying to introduce more relevant services to the centers such IT training to appeal to communities,’ he said.