The Kenyan government has announced that it will launch the first batch of low-cost, locally-assembled smartphones in August in a bid to boost digital inclusion and access to online services.
The smartphones will cost about Sh5,400 ($40) and will be 4G enabled, allowing users to access various government services such as e-citizen, e-health, e-education and e-commerce. The devices will also enable the youth and other members of the public to access online work opportunities and digital skills training.
The initiative is part of a partnership between the government, telecommunication companies and private donors, who will provide financial and technical support.
Feasibility studies for the smartphones, which are being assembled at the Konza Technopolis in Malili, Machakos County, have been completed, according to Kenya's cabinet secretary for information communication and technology (ICT), Eliud Owalo.
Minister Owalo said that the project is part of the government’s vision of leveraging technology to make it efficient and effective.
He said that the government has invested in digital infrastructure such as fiber optic cables, data centers and public Wi-Fi hotspots, and now wants to ensure that more Kenyans can make use of them.
"We are going to roll out our first batch of locally-assembled and affordable smartphones in the Kenyan market to ensure that many Kenyans make use of the digital infrastructure installed by the government," Minister Owalo said during the launch of a digital laboratory at Maseno School in Kisumu.
He added that the government has also opened talks with global digital technology giants to link them with Kenyan youths for online work opportunities.
President William Ruto, who presided over the launch of digitized government services on June 30, said that the country is on course to achieve its target of providing cheap smartphones by August. He said that the devices will enhance service delivery and economic growth.
"We are well on course with our telcos in making sure that by August we will have smartphones affordably, working between the government of Kenya and our telcos, of 40 dollars which is like Sh5,400. You can now have a smartphone where all government services will be available," he said.
Earlier, Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom, said the smartphones will be available in cash and on credit through lipa mdogo mdogo, a payment plan that allows customers to pay as little as Sh20 per day.