By KARANJA NJOROGE
Nakuru town residents are yet to enjoy free internet connectivity despite the much-hyped free Wi-Fi project launch two weeks ago.
The county government yesterday confirmed that free Wi-Fi in Nakuru town’s Central Business District started experiencing problems a day after it was launched.
County Executive in charge of ICT Stephen Maritim said the connectivity hitch was caused by the blowing-up of a gadget as a result of electrical power fluctuations. The initiative is a joint collaboration between the county government and the State House Digital team led by Dennis Itumbi who has been hard pressed to explain why there was no connectivity.
Since it was launched, most town residents have been complaining of difficulties in accessing the service.
“I have been trying to access it but it seems it is not working and no explanation has been forthcoming,” Gerald Wambugu, a resident, said.
Itumbi has been fighting off residents on social media demanding to know if it was a gimmick. The State House officer yesterday did not pick his calls, neither did he respond to questions sent to his mobile phone number.
TOUTED AS HISTORIC
Wambugu said that though the signal of the Nakuru Bila Waya network has been appearing on his mobile phone, there was no internet connectivity.
“The signals are coming up on phones but access is almost impossible as they are always out of range,” a local youth said.
Maritim however downplayed the problem, terming it as one of the teething problems expected in a major project.
“There are issues of warranty which have delayed the repair but our engineers are working round the clock to have the problem rectified,” he told The Standard.
The free connectivity was touted as historic with Nakuru joining Kigali, Rwanda, and the City of Tshwane, South Africa as the three cities in Africa with free Wi-Fi connection for residents. Speaking at the launch, governor Kinuthia Mbugua said the initiative would herald rapid access to information, which is important for economic development.
“There was a power surge at some point and our technicians are on it. By the end of the week it should be working well,” said Maritim, adding that only one of the four sections of the town were affected.
Governor Mbugua had talked of the county being “privileged as the first to launch free Wi-Fi” and urged the residents to utilise it to access useful information which can be used to transform the county as a regional business hub.
County officials have indicated that more Internet Service Providers (ISP) are also being brought in to supplement the current sole provider.
Residents said they expected better arrangements from the Jubilee digital team and County Government.
“Jubilee rode to power on digital platform and we are wondering why they can’t provide quality internet connectivity as promised ,” said Rhoda Chebet, another resident.
The pilot project was expected to lay the ground for the establishment of free internet in other major towns across the country.
