Kenya to Launch Cheap Smartphones to Make Government Services More Accessible
Following yesterday’s declaration by President William Ruto that the government is working on a plan to produce mobile phones that will cost less than Ksh. 5,000 in the next year, Kenya will begin manufacturing affordable smartphones.
The president was speaking in Nairobi at the annual general meeting of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).
President Ruto said, “The actual last mile in technology is the gadget, and already we are working with Telcos to develop a smartphone that will be under Ksh. 5,000 and that can do everything you want.”
We want to see if we can get it to Ksh. 3,654 ($30) or Ksh. 4,872 ($40), he continued. I want to assure the nation that we will have the most affordable smartphone in Africa, made in Kenya, within the next 8 to 12 months.
The president claims that the government has already begun talking with telecommunication industry stakeholders about producing the low-cost phones.
The action will enable the nation to be fully technologically connected, which is a top priority of the Kenya Kwanza government.
